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Company History 
55th Engineers 

American Expeditionary 
Forces 



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WiLLiAM Li "Peterson 

Assisted by 

Ralph S^' Undervtood 

With Photographic Illustrations 
and Sketches by 

William F. Swanson 






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CAPTAIN WYATT S. HAWKINS 
To ichom this book is respectjitlly dedicated 



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FIRST SERGEANT HARRY E. CLARK 

In memory oj him whose full measure of service to his country, rendered 

thru all the period of need, was crowned and consecrated by the 

supreme sacrifice 




VATA.\— EASTEU MONDAY FAIR— GEK.MAN PRISON EUS AT REST 







55TH ENGINEERS 

/VMERICM EXPEDITIOKARY FORCES 



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PART I 

THE men who made up the nucleus for the 55th Engineers were mobilized at 
Camp Dodge, Iowa, and Camp Meade, Maryland, during the period from 
February 22, 1918, to March 5. 1918, respectively. These increments, together with 
many others that followed, either as single recruits sent direct from enlistment cen- 
ters or in groups as transferred in from other camps, composed the material that 
made up the 55th Engineer Regiment as it was finally organized. 

There were six full companies and a headquarters detachment in the organization 
as perfected. The alphabetically arranged roster of Company "D" from the time 
of its organization to the date of the compilation of this history, together with 
information as to the serial number, civil occupation, current enlistment date, as- 
signment to company date, subsequent promotions, transfers out or discharges, is 
inserted, in so far as it was found available, in tabulated form below: 



Serial Civil 

Number Name Occupation 

2034202 Allen, Darwin, Farmer . . . 

2034204 Allen. Selden P., Barber . . 

!474603 Anastasi, Guiseppe, Laborer 

2042684 Ankiel, John J., Laborer . . 

2139331 Anyan, George, Decorator 

2042066 Badalamenti, Saverio, Riveter . 

2047945 Baker, Clarence, Millwright . 

2140691 Barrer, James T., Farmer . 

2139825 Barry, William T., Painter . . 



Date of 
Enlistment 
Mar. 29, 1918 
Mar. 29, 1918 
May 25. 1918 
April 27, 1918 
Feb. 24, 1918 
Apr. 26, 1918 
April 27, 1918 

Feb. 23. 1918 
Feb. 22, 1918 



2139336 
2433454 
2140179 
1807775 
2558805 
2045969 
2139339 
2139341 
2046742 
2146234 

2042516 
2047583 
1807146 
2234210 

2036985 
2890019 
1807203 
2045539 
2139832 
2139994 
2143335 
M19095 
2034215 
2140622 
2474627 

2034216 
2140091 
2141280 



Bartsch, Gustav M., Photo Engr. Feb. 26. 1918 
Baver, Martin W., Window Trim'er. Apr. 25. 1918 

Beckham, Lewis G.. Barber . Feb. 23, 1918 

*Bechtel, John S., Machinist . Feb. 23, 1918 

Bell. Herbert H., Painter . . Feb. 23, 1918 

Bernatchez, Edward J., Carpenter Apr. 27, 1918 

Berwanger, Jake. Horse-shoer . Feb. 22, 1918 

Bettler, Ray L., Painter . . Feb. 22, 1918 

Biskupski, Floryan, Frame-worker .Apr. 29, 1918 

Black, Harry L., Watchmaker . Feb. 22, 1918 

*Blackstone, Earl H., Farmer . April 2,5, 1918 

*Blasingame, Robert L..Farmer . April 25, 1918 

Blazis. Peter, Laborer . . . Feb. 23. 1918 

Begard, Lewis J., Well-driller . Mar. 29. 1918 

Boris, Tony, Laborer . . . April 4, 1918 

Boucher, Jonas, Bridgeman . . April 27,1918 

Boulis, Peter W.. Salesman . Feb. 23, 1918 

Boussneur, John W., Carpenter , April 25, 1918 

*Bowlby, Charles M., Student . Feb. 25, 1918 

Brassard, Louis, Railroad Fireman Feb. 1, 1918 

Braaten, Edwin, Farmer . . Feb. 25, 1918 

Brimelow, Chas. W., Pat'rn M'k'r. Sept. 22. 1917 

Brinkman, John, Farmer . . . Mar. 28, 1918 

Brockmann, Henry F., Farmer . Feb. 22, 1918 

Brooks, Everett .F., Sec. Foreman. May 25. 1918 

Brooks, Lawrence P., Carpenter . Mar. 28,1918 

*Brose, Gustave B., Book-binder Feb. 24, 1918 

Brown, Harry M.. Farmer . . Feb. 24, 1918 



Date of Promotions 

Assignments 
May 21, 1918 .... Private 
May 21, 1918 Pvt. Icl. June 6. '18 
July 14, 1918 .... Private 
May 21, 1918 .... Private 
April 1, 1918: Cook May 10, 1918 
May 21, 1918 .... Private 
May 21, 1918 .... Private 
Cook May 26, 1919 
Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. Icl. Sept. 15, '18 
Apr. 1. 1918. Pvf. Icl. June 26. '18 
Corp., Aug. 3, 1918 
Sgt. Nov. 21, 1918 
Apr. 1. 1918: Cook May 10. 1918 
Dec. 23. 1918 .... Private 
April 1, 1918 .... Private 
April 1, 1918: Pvt. Icl. June 6, 18 
April 1, 1918 .... Private 
May 21, 1918 .... Private 
April 1. 1918 .... Private 
April 1, 1918: Pvt. Icl June 6, '18 
May 23, 1918 .... Private 
Apr. 1, 1918: Corp Mav 1, 1918 
Sgt. May 10, 1918 
Private 
Private 
. Private 
Private 
21. 1918 
Private 
Private 
3. 1918 
Private 



May 23, 1918 

May 23, 1918 

Apr. 1, 1918 . . . 

May 23, 1918 . . . 

Pvt. Icl. Nov. 
May 21, 1918 . . . 
May 24, 1918 . . . 
Apr. 1, 1918; Cook Aug 
May 23, 1918 . . . 
May 7, 1918: Pvt. Icl. May 10. 1918 
Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 
Apr. 1. 1918 .... Private 
June 21. 1918: Pvt. Icl. Nov. 1, "18 
May 23, 1918: Pvt. Id. Sept. 15. '18 
Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 
July 19. 1918 . . . .Private 

Pvt. Icl., June 1, 1919 
May 23, 1918 .... Private 
Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 
Apr. 1, 1918: Bugler May 1, 1918 



Serial Civil Date of 

Number Name Occupation Enlistment 

2034354 Brydle, Casper G., Truck Driver. Mar. 29, 1918 



2039779 Burhans, Clyde L., Telegrapher Mar. 29, 1918 
2141657 Burnquist, David, Farmer . . Feb. 23, 1918 
2139844 *Carlson, Oscar R., Railr'd Foreman Feb. 25, 1918 



Feb. 26, 1918 
Feb. 24, 1918 



Mar. 28, 1918 
April 26, 1918 



2139347 *Clark, Joseph, Athlete . 
2139351 Clarke, Harry E., Farmer 



2134356 Clawson, Peter, Farmer . 
2041941 Cocat, Michael, Carpenter 



2041751 Copley, George H.. Carpenter . Apr. 2d. 1918 

5034227 Courtney, Francis E., Papermaker. Mar. 28, 1918 

2034229 Coxford, Edgar, Teamster . . Mar. 28, 1918 

2139349 Crane, William, Plumber . . Feb. 27, 1918 

2034231 Crippin, Clair, Framer . . . Mar. 29, 1918 

1807031 Dames, William E., Carpenter . Feb. 24, 1918 



2139839 * Davis, Herman C, Farmer . Mar. 5, 1918 
2044958 DeCoker, Edmond, Carpenter . Apr. 25, 1918 

2039230 *De Fields, Alex, Farmer . . Mar. 28, 1918 
2139317 Degen, Nicklous, Carpenter . Sept. 18, 1917 

2881153 De Mayola, Ernesto, Draftsman 

2034237 DePuy, Russel L.. Farmer . . Mar. 28,1918 

1796703 DeVan, Irwin F., Machinist . Jan. 2, 1918 

2881153 De Mayold, Ernest, R., Draftsman .... 

2043347 *Dimaria, Antonino, Laborer 

2048112 Domingo, Franchesco, Laborer . Apr. 26. 1918 

2482784 Donely, Thomas, Laborer . . Apr. 27, 1918 

2141461 Driver, William G., Farmer . Feb. 21, 1918 

1269870 *Duffin, Charles W., Laborer 

2042813 *Dugue. Oswald A., Carpenter . Apr. 27, 1918 

2141292 Ellefson, Alfred, Farmer . . Feb. 22, 1918 

2474942 Ercolano, Basile, Glassworker . May 25, 1918 

2139850 Erlandson, Frank G., Blacksmith. Feb. 27, 1918 

2141555 Essick, Warren G., Auto-Mech. Feb. 24, 1918 

1808276 Felzer, Philip. Shipper . . . Feb. 26, 1918 

2141112 Fischer, Emil, Farmer . . . Feb. 23, 1918 

1809594 Fisher, Walter R., Decorator . Feb. 26, 1918 

1809595 Fleming, James P., Laborer . Feb. 27, 1918 
1807147 Fogarty, Edward W.. Carpenter Feb. 23, 1918 
2713470 FothergiU, Charles W., Pur. Agt. Apr. 25, 1918 

2043061 *Foti, Francesco, Laborer . . May 23. 1918 
2141297 Foulke, Webb W., Mailcarrier Feb. 24, 1918 

2139362 Franson, Albert, Carpenter . Feb. 26, 1918 

2141300 Fritzmeier, Wm. M., Garage-man. Feb. 23, 1918 

2141671 Frost. Jesse A., Mason . . . Feb. 23, 1918 

2713252 Furman, HiUiard B.. Clerk . April 28, 1918 

2048686 Gagnon, Archie J., Carpenter . April 26, 1918 



Date of 

AssIC^ME^'TS Promotions 

May 23, 1918; Pvt. Icl. June 6, '18 

Corp. Nov. 21, 1918 

Sgt. June 1, 1919 

May 29, 1918 .... Private 

Apr. 1, 1918; Pvt. Icl. May 10, '18 

Apr- 1, 1918; Pvt. lei. May 1, '18 

Corp. May 20, 1918 

Sgt. June 6, 1918 

Sgt. Icl. Oct. 23, 1918 

M. E. Nov. 14, 1918 

Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 

Apr. 1, 1918; Corp. May 10. 1918 

Sgt. May 20, 1918 

Sgt. Icl. Aug. 3, 1918 

1st Sgt. Nov. 14. 1918 

May 23, 1918 .... Private 

May 23, 1918 .... Private 

Bugler Jan. 1, 1919 

May 23, 1918; Pvt. Icl. Aug. 3, '18 

May 23, 1918; Pvt. Icl. Sept. 15, '18 

May 23, 1918 .... Private 

Apr. 1, 1918; Pvt. Icl. Sept. 15, '18 

Corp. Oct. 23, 1918 

May 23, 1918 .... Private 

Apr. 1, 1918; Pvt. Icl. May 1, '18 

Corp. May 20, 1918 

Sgt. Oct. 23, 1918 

Stable Sgt. Nov. 21, 1918 

Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 

May 23, 1918; Pvt. Icl. Nov. 1, '18 

Corp. Nov. 21, 1918 

May 23, 1918; Pvt. Icl. Sept. 15, '18 

Apr. 1, 1918; Cook May 10, 1918 

Mess Sgt. Aug. 31, 1918 

June 19, 1918 . . . .Private 

May 23, 1918 .... Private 

Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 

May 23, 1918 Private 

May 23, 1918 .... Private 
May 23, 1918 .... Private 
Dec. 23, 1918 .... Private 
Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 
May 15, 1918 . . . .Private 

May 23, 1918 .... Private 
Apr. 1, 1918; Pvt. Icl. Sept. 15, '18 

July 19, 1918 Private 

Apr. 1, 1918; Pvt. Icl. Sept. 15, '18 
Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 
Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 
Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 
Apr. 1, 1918; Pvt. Icl. May 1, '18 
Cook, April 9, 1919 
Apr. 1, 1918; Pvt. Icl. Sept. 15, '18 
May 28, 1918; Pvt. Icl. June 6, '18 
Corp. Nov. 21, 1918 

Private 

Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. Icl. Aug. 3, 1918 
Corp. Oct. 23, 1918 
Apr 1, 1918 .... Private 
Apr 1, 1918 .... Private 
Apr. 1, 1918. Cook Aug. 3, 1918 
May 28, 1918 .... Private 
May 23. 1918. Pvt. Icl. June 6, '18 



Serial Civil Date of 

Number Name Occupation Enlistment 

2043986 *Gall, Gustave A., Const. Foreman. Apr. 26. 1918 

2141301 Ganske. Benjamin C.. Farmer . Feb 23. 1918 

2043317 Gardisani. Olive, Laborer . . Apr. 26. 1918 

1809409 Girone. Guiseppe. Carpenter . Feb. 27. 1918 

2140827 Gnadl. Ernest A., Farmer . . Feb. 22. 1918 

2139305 Gnall. George, Steam Shovel Engr. Sept. 18, 1917 

2041694 Gobel. Frank I., Carpenter . April 26, 1918 

2141304 Goldslrand, Gustave, Caapenter Feb. 24, 1918 

21415.54 Green, Albert, Farmer . . . Feb. 25, 1918 

20461.54 Green, Archie R., Farmer . April 27, 1918 

1808860 tGress, Philip S., Carpenter . . Feb. 26, 1918 

2048106 Griffin, Gerald M., Laborer . April 29, 1918 

2139861 Grossman, George A., Auto-mech. Feb. 25, 1918 
2139365 Grzywinski, Nicholis, Forger . Feb. 27, 1918 

2139862 Gustafson, Eric V., Contractor . Feb. 25, 1918 



2141306 Hammond. Earl D., Mechanic . Feb. 24, 1918 
2139866 Hansen, John C, Drayman . Feb. 24. 1918 



2038139 Heath, Chas. F.. R. R. Clerk 



Mar. 28. 1918 



1806980 Hecker, William, Clerk . . . Feb. 23, 1918 

1806018 tHeffner. John D.. Machinist . Feb, 23, 1918 

2140686 *Herbeck, Anton P., Plasterer . Feb. 26, 1918 

2141543 Helland, Berthold J., Farmer . Feb. 23. 1918 

2044985 Hilgendorf, Arthur F„ Millwright. Apr. 25, 1918 

2139376 Himberg, Thorvald, Woodsman Feb. 24. 1918 
2139870 *Hinz, Harry, Bookkeeper . . Feb. 26, 1918 

2141310 *Hoc*ksema, Edward, Farmer . Feb. 23, 1918 

2041272 Hoebeke, Corneal. Machinist . Apr. 15. 1918 

1673218 Hole, Roger M., Student . . Feb. 15. 1918 

2139377 *Holloran, Francis W., Draftsman Feb. 25, 1918 



20342,58 Hornev, Frederick E.. Farmer . Mar. 29, 1918 

2046916 Howe, Weslev, Laborer . . April 28, 1918 

2139873 Hundertmark, Wm.. Bridge-builder Feb. 25. 1918 

2141313 Hutchens, Clayto, Bridge Cptr, Feb. 24, 1918 



20.34261 Ickes, Jesse. Farmer . 
2139860 Jackson, Chas. E., Salesman 



Mar. 29, 1918 
Feb. 26, 1918 



2139876 Jackson, Frank J.. Lithographer Feb. 25. 1918 



2139381 -'Janusewski, Robert, Farmer . . Feb. 25. 1918 

2139383 Jenson, John, Well-driller . . Feb. 22, 1918 
2139880 Jertson, Nels, Mechanic . . Feb. 24. 1918 

2139384 *Johnson, Albion K.. Millwright Feb. 25, 1918 
213939? *Johnson, Axel B., Teacher . Feb. 25, 1918 



2430988 Johnson, John, Carpenter . 
2140831 Johnson. Juul I.. Well-driller 
2047614 Johnson, Walter A., Athletic 
Director 

53945 Jones, Thomas R., Farmer 



Apr. 28. 1918 

Feb. 22. 1918 

April 29. 1918 



Feb. 23. 1918 



Date of 
Assignments 

May 23, 1918 , , 

Apr. 1, 1918 . . 

May 23, 1918 . . 

Apr. 1, 1918 . . 

Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. Icl. 

1. 1918. Pvt. Icl. 

23, 1918 . . 



Apr. 
Mav 



Promotions 

. Private 

Private 

Private 

. Private 

Sept. 1.5, '18 

May 20. '18 

Private 



Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. Id. June 6. 1918 



Apr 

M 

Apr. 



1, 1918 

21. 1918 . . . 

1. 1918 .... 

May 23, 1918 .... 

Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. Id. Au 

Aor. 1. 1918 .... 
Apr. 1, 1918 



Apr. 1, 1918. 
Apr. 1, 1918. 



Private 

Private 

Private 

Private 

3. '18 

Private 

Pvt. Icl. June 6, 18 

Corp. Nov. 21. 1918 

Sgt. Apr. 17, 1919 

Pvt. Icl. Nov. 1, 1918 

Corp. Apr. 17,1919 

Corp.. Mav 20, 1918 

Sgt. June 6, 1918 

Sgt. Icl. Nov. 21 . 1918 

Mav 2.3, 1918. Pvt. Icl. Nov. 11, '18 

Corp. Nov. 21, 1918 

Apr. 1. 1918. Pvt. Icl. June 6, 1918 

Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 

Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 

Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 

May 23, 1918 .... Private 

Apr. 1. 1918. Pvt. Icl. May 20, '18 

Apr. 1, 1918 CoTp. May 10, 1918 

Sup. Sgt. May 20. 1918 

Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 

Mav 29, 1918. Pvt. Icl. Apr. 19. '19 

Dec. 4, 1918 .... Private 

Apr. 1.1918. Pvt. Icl. Mav 10, '18 

Corp. Mav 10, 1918 

Sgt. Maj. Aug. 1, 1918 

May 21, 1918. Pvt. IcL June 6, '18 

Mav 23, 1918 .... Private 

Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. Icl. Sept. 15, '18 

Private Aug. 14, 1918 

Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. Id. June 6. 1918 

May 21, 1918 .... Private 

Apr. 1, 1918. Corp. May 1, 1918 

Sgl. May 10. 1918 

Sgt. Icl. June 6, 1918 

Apr. 1. 1918. Pvt. Icl May 10, 1918 

Corp. May 20, 1918 

Sgt. Oct. 23. 1918 

1918 .... Private 

1918 .... Private 

1918 ... Private 

Apr. 1. 1918. Pvt. Icl. Mav 20, '18 

May 13, 1918. Pvt Id, May 13, '18 

Corp. Mav 20, 1918 

Sgt. June 6, 1918 

.Sgt. Icl. June 14, 1918 

Dec. 23, 1918 .... Private 

Apr. 1. 1918. Prt. Id. Sept. 15, '18 

May 23. 1918. Corp. June 6, 1918 

Sgt. June 14. 1918 

Sgt. Id. Aug. 3. 1918 

Apr. 1. 1918 .... Private 



Apr. 1. 
Apr. 1. 
Apr, 1, 



Serial Civil 

Number Name Occupation 

2141317 Jorgenson, Christ R., Farmer . 

2139386 Kortes, Bernard, Clerk . . . 

2045251 *Karkowski, Peter, Laborer . . 

2047191 Keely, Wm. T., Laborer . . 

2140590 Kensok, Joseph M., Farmer . 

2140203 Kersting, Charles N., Woodsman 

2139885 King, James, Horse-man 

2141322 Kinsey, Charlie L., Farmer . . 

1808282 Klarnetsky, Israel A., Clerk . 

2141324 *Klein, Gradus G., Farmer . . 

2141132 *Klopping, Victor A., Farmer . 

2139389 *Koch, Irving H., Saddler . . 

2044921 Koenen, George G., Carpenter . 

2028892 Korzau, Stanley, Laborer . . 

2139309 *Kraft, Eugene C, Machinist . 



Date of 

Enlistment 

Feb. 23, 1918 

Feb. 24, 1918 

April 30, 1918 
Feb. 23, 1918 
Feb. 26, 1918 

Feb. 22, 1918 



Feb. 23, 
Feb. 26, 
Feb. 24, 
Feb. 25, 
Feb. 28, 
Apr. 29, 
Dec. 19, 
Sept. 18, 



2047176 Kressin, William A., Carpenter Apr. 27 

2139393 tKrohn, Oscar N., Farmer . . Feb. 24, 

2040991 Lang, John D., Crane Operator. Apr. 10 

1795901 Lawler, James J., Engineer . Feb. 25. 

2141328 Lecas, Gus E., Athlete . . . Feb. 5^ 

2139894 *Lee, John W., Farmer . . . Feb. 24. 

1808268 Leshner, Samuel, Carpenter . Feb. 26. 

2046639 Levington, Charles W., Laborer Apr. 29. 

2142491 Lien, John C, Carpenter . . Feb. 25 

2139395 Lincoln, George E., Mechanic . Feb. 22, 

2141129 *Lindenmayer, E. L., P. 0. Clk Feb. 22 

2141335 Lund, Ole K., Engineer . . . Feb. 24. 

2141697 tLundeen, John A., Farmer . . Feb. 24. 

2141698 Lundeen, Victor E., Farmer . . Feb. 24, 
2041248 Lutz, Cyrus, Farmer . . . April 15, 
2146507 *Lyon, Fred R., Teacher . . Feb. 23, 

2139398 Mabie, Gomer, Miner . . . Feb. 23, 

2047673 Main, John, Laborer . . . April 26. 

2028899 Makauhkas, William, Miner . Nov. 19, 

2139900 Maltzen, Harry, Farmer . . Feb. 2,5, 

2028900 Mancuso, Joe, Miner .... Nov. 18, 
2044586 *Mapes, Vernie A., Teamster . April 29, 
2044577 Maranzano, Stefano, Moulder . April 26, 
2140987 Marsh, John A., Plumber . . Feb. 22, 

2139901 Marsh, Royal R., Musician . Feb. 25. 
2146295 Marshall, William D., Farmer . Feb. 23, 
2140839 Mathis, Carrie A., Farmer . . Feb. 23, 



1809696 
2139404 



Matson, Edwin, Carpenter 
Mayo, William D., Teacher 



2038902 Massina, Guiseppe, Laborer 

2035049 Michaelis, George H., Laborer 

2136741 *Michels, Otto K., Musician . 

2139409 Milender, George W., Farmer . 

2140840 Miller, Alfred 0., Farmer . . 

2028903 Mirecki, Wladyslaw, Miner . 

2139411 Molitor, Joseph A., Musician . 

2139909 Molleston, Carl T., Drummer . 



Feb. 26, 
Feb. 27, 

Nov. 18 

Mar. 29. 
Feb. 24 
Feb. 22, 
Feb. 27 

Nov. 19. 
Feb. 26 



1918 
1918 
1918 
1918 
1918 
1918 
1917 
1917 



1918 
1918 
1918 
1918 
1918 
1918 
1918 
1918 
1918 
1918 
1918 
1918 
1918 
1918 
1918 
1918 

1917 
1918 
1917 
1918 
1917 
1918 
1918 
1918 

1918 
1918 
1918 

1918 
1918 

1917 

1918 
1918 
1918 
1918 

1917 
1918 



Date of 

Assign.ments 
Apr. 1, 1918 
Apr. 1, 1918 
May 23, 1918 
May 23, 1918 
Apr. 1, 1918 



Promotions 

Private 
Private 
Private 
Private 
Private 



Feb. 25, 1918 



Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. Icl. June 6, 1918 

Cook, May 1, 1919 
Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. Icl. Aug. 3, '18 
Corp., Oct. 23, 1918 
Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. Icl., June 1, '19 
Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 
Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. Icl., Nov. 1, '18 
Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. Icl., May 10, '18 
Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 
May 23, 1918. Pvt. IcL, Nov. 1, '18 
May 21, 1918 .... Private 
Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. Icl., May 1. '18 

Corp., May 10, 1918 
Sgt., Aug. 3, 1918 
M. E., Nov. 14, 1918 
May 21, 1918. Pvt. Icl., Sept. 15, '18 
Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 
May 8, 1918 .... Private 
Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 
Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 
Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 
Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 
May 21, 1918 .... Private 
Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. Icl., May 10, '18 
Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. Icl., May 10, '18 
Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 
Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. Icl. May 20, '18 
Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 
Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 
May 29, 1918 .... Private 
May 13, 1918. Pvt. Icl., May 20, '18 

Corp., June 1. 1819 
Apr. 1, 1918- .... Private 
May 23, 1918. Pvt. Icl., Aug. 3. '18 
May 29, 1918 .... Private 
May 8. 1918 .... Private 
May 21, 1918 . . . .Private 
May 23, 1918 .... Private 
May 23, 1918. Pvt. Icl. Sept. 15, '18 
Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. Icl., May 1, "18 

Corp., May 10, 1918 

Apr. 1, 1918. Corp., May 1, 1918 

Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. Icl., May 20, '18 

Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. IcL, Sept. 15, '18 

Wagoner, Nov. 1, 1918 

Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 

Apr. 1, 1918. Corp., May 1, 1918 

Sgt., Oct. 2.3, 1918 

May 29, 1918 .... Private 

Pvt. Icl., June 1, 1919 

May 8, 1918 .... Private 

May 25, 1918. Cook, Oct. 23, 1918 

Apr. 1, 1918 . . . . Private 

Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. Icl. Sept. 15, '18 

Wagoner, Nov. 1, 1918 

May 21, 1918 .... Private 

Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. IcL. May 10, '18 

Corp., Oct. 23, 1918 
Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. Icl., June 6, '18 

Corp.. Oct. 23, 1918 



Serial Civil 

Number Name Occupation 

2042782 *Morenz, August, Carpenter . 

2140167 *Mouw, Albert A.. Bookkeeper . 

2140842 *Mrozek, Frank S., Chauffeur . 

2028904 Mrzvgud, Anthony, Solderer . 

2043729 iMcCaul, John H., Carpenter . . 

2049171 Mclsaac. Edwin, Sec. Foreman 

2141128 McKeever, Benjamin H., Farmer 

!139905 MrKusick, Charles W., Machinist 

2044122 McLouth, Arthur, Mechanic . 

2139916 Nelson, Wm. C, Auto Assembly 
*Nicolaisen, Henry B., Carpenter 

2139417 Nielson, Kai E., Painter . . 

2043352 Nolan, Wm. R., Student . . 

2139918 Nordwall, Anton, Carpenter . 



2049554 *Nyquist, Claus A., Sec. Foreman April 28, 1918 

2046474 Ombry, Joseph, Laborer . . April 29, 1918 

2035019 Olejniczak, Joseph P., Crane Opr. Mar. 29, 1918 

2145631 *Otis, Glenn L., Optometrist . Feb. 23, 1918 

2139923 Pahdem, Herman C, Decorator Feb. 26. 1918 
!028909 Pancrazio, Re, Laborer . . . Dec. 21, 1917 
2141353 * Palmer, Wm. C, Mechanic . Feb. 26, 1918 
2045805 Parks, Edwin A., Cement Finisher Apr. 29. 1918 

2139924 Pederson, Oscar J., Lbr. Yd. Mgr. Feb. 23, 1918 
1807242 Pearlstein, Louis, Contractor . Feb. 24, 1918 



2139925 *Pepmueller, Fred W.. Painter . Feb. 25, 1918 

2139440 Peterson. John A., Cliauffeur . Feb. 25, 1918 

2141710 Peterson, John E., Engineer . Feb. 23, 1918 

2141711 Peterson, George G., Engineer . Feb. 23, 1918 
2141355 Peterson, Sigurd, Farmer . . Feb. 23, 1918 
2140070 Peterson, Wm. L., School Supt. Feb. 22, 1918 



Promotions 
., Aug. 3, '18 
Private 
Private 
Private 
Private 
Private 
Private 
May 10, '18 
Private 



Mar. 5, 
Mar. 29, 
FeJ). 27, 
Mar. 29, 
Feb. 25, 
Nov. 19, 

April 15, 
Nov. 18, 

April 1, 
May 10, 



2139928 *Phifer, Earl W.. Barber . . 

2034415 Philips, Dan A., Teamster . . 

1808240 *Piccinni, Donato, Carpenter . 

2034344 Picchiottino, Michael A., Farmer 

2141357 tPledke, Frank H., Boilermaker 

2028913 Polo, William A., Farmer . . 
2041260 Poll, Benjamin, Carpenter . 

2028914 Poma. Sam. Laijorer .... 
2424075 Powell, Clias. Jones, Plumber 
(89159 Power, Pierrie A., Carpenter 

2036996 Rashkowski, Frank, Laborer . 

2140046 Reeves, Chester, Miner-Clerk . Jan. 31, 1918 

2034297 Reynolds, Frank, Farmer . . Mar. 29, 1918 

2036774 Risinger, Kirby W., Laborer . April 2, 1918 

2141548 tRobinson, Charles L., Engineer Feb. 23. 1918 

2140850 Rock, Martin A., Farmer . . Feb. 23, 1918 

2041989 Roenisch, Herbert, Carpenter . April 26, 1918 
2049038 Romes, Toney, Laborer . . April 29, 1918 

2139435 *Rothtrock, Benj. F. Tractor . Feb. 23, 1918 
Salesman 



2028921 Rukonen, Otto, Miner 



Date of Date of 

Enlistment Assignments 

Aug. 27, 1917 May 23, 1918. Pvt. Icl 
Feb. 27, 1918 Apr. 1, 1918 . . 
Feb. 26, 1918 Apr. 1, 1918 . . 
Nov. 21, 1917 May 29, 1918 . . 
April 29, 1918 May 23, 1918 . . 
April 28, 1918 May 23, 1918 . . 
Feb. 23, 1918 Apr. 1, 1918 . . 
Feb. 25, 1918 Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. Icl. 
April 26, 1918 July 19, 1918 . . 
Feb. 25, 1918 May 13, 1918. Corp. June, 6, 1918 
April 29, 1918 Dec. 23, 1918. Corp., Feb. 1, 1918 
Feb. 26, 1918 Apr. 1, 1918, Pvt. Icl., Sept. 15, '18 
Feb. 25, 1918 May 13, 1918 Pvt. Icl., May 20, '18 
Feb 25 1918 May 8, 1918. Pvt. Icl., Sept. 15, '18 
Corp., June 1, 1919 
May 23, 1918. Corp., Aug. 3, 1918 
Sgt., Nov. 21, 1918 
May 23. 1918 .... Private 
May 8, 1918. Pvt. Icl.. Sept. 15, '18 
Wagoner, Oct. 1, 1918 
May 8, 1918 .... Private 
Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. Icl. May 20, 1918 
May 29, '18. Pvt. Icl., Sept., 15, '18 
Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 
May 23, 1918 .... Private 
May 8, 1918. Pvt. lcl„ June 6, 18 
Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. Icl., May 1, '18 
Corp., May 10, 1918 
Sgt., May 20, 1918 
Supply Sgt., June 1. 1919 
Apr. 1, 1918 . - . . . Private 
Apr. 1, 1918 .... Private 
Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. Icl., Aug. 3, '18 
Wagoner, Nov. 1. 1918 
1, 1918 .... Private 
1, 1918 .... Private 
1, 1918. Pvt, Icl., May 1, '18 
Corp., June 6, 1918 
Sgt., Aug. 
1918 Apr. 1, 1918 .... 
1918 May 29, '18. Pvt. Id 
1918 Apr. 1, 1918 . . 
1918 May 29, '18. Pvt. Id 
1918 Apr. 1, 1918 . . . 

1917 May 21, 1918 . . . 

1918 May 29, 1918 . . . 

1917 May 29, 1918 . . . 

1918 Dec. 23, 1918 . . . 
1918 May 18, 1918. Pvt. Id. 

Corp., N. 

April 2, 1918 May 29, 1918 . . . 

Apr. 1, 1918, Pvt. Id., 

May 29, 1918 . . . 

May 8, 1918 . . . 

Apr. 1, 1918 . . . 

Apr. 1, 1918. Pvt. Icl., 

Corp., Nc 

May 23, 1918 . . . 

May 23, 1918 . . . 

Apr. 1, 1918. Corp., May 1, 1918 

Sgt., May 10, 1918 

1st. Sgt., May 10, 1918 

M. E., Nov. 14, 1918 

Nov. 18, 1917 May 21, 1918 .... Private 



Apr. 
Apr. 
.\pr. 



Sept 
Sept 



3, 1918 
Private 
15, '18 
Private 
15, '18 
Piivate 
Private 
Private 
Private 
Private 
Nov. 1, '18 

V, 21. 1918 
Private 

May 1, '18 

Private 

Private 

. Private 

June 6, "18 

V. 21, 1918 
Private 
Private 



Serial Civil 

Number Name Occupation 

2139437 Runmark, John, Artificial . . 

Limb-maker 

2047625 St. Aubin, Henry L., Laborer . 

1805095 Sama, Guiseppe, Fireman 

1808716 Sando, William G., Carpenter . 



2044598 Schaibly, Ezra E., Carpenter . 

1139914 Schmidt. Edw. A., Harnessmaker 

2139935 Schmidt, Louis H., Blacksmith 

1807469 Schmidt, Raymond W., Clerk . 

2044144 Schmitt, Joseph H., Carpenter 

1141371 tSchmitz, Peter J., Granitecutter 

2140072 Schwanke, Chas. A., Painter . 

2145222 Shepard. Daniel H., Painter . 

1807504 Sheridan, Edwin C, Millwright 

2423743 Shook, Herbert A., Farmer . 

1806999 * Shook, Oley F., Engineer . . 

M28929 Shulach, John, Laborer . . . 

2141377 Sinna, Andrew, Engineer 

2141578 SmiEh. George W., Student . 



Date of 

Enlistment 

Feb. 25, 1918 

April 29, 1918 
Mar. 2, 1918 
Feb. 25, 1918 



Date of 
Assignments Promotions 

Apr. 1, '18. Pvt. Icl.. Sept. 15, '18 



April 29, 
Feb. 25, 
Feb. 24. 
Feb. 24, 

April 27. 

Feb. 23, 
Feb. 22. 
Jan. 22. 
Feb. 24, 
Mar. 28, 
Feb. 23, 
Dec. 21, 
Feb. 24, 
Feb. 24, 



1918 
1918 
1918 
1918 
1918 
1918 
1918 
1918 
1918 
1918 
1918 
1917 
1918 
1918 



2140855 Stookesberry, E. H., Mechanic 



2140705 Strobel, Chas. J., Farmer 

2140706 Stuckman, Harold, Farmer 



1807525 ''Suplicki. Zygumt, Bookkeeper 

2139947 Swanson, Wm. F., Artist . 

2041243 Tannewitz, Joseph E., Farmer 

2043123 Tatti, Thomas, St. Car. Con. 

2139454 Teders, Henry J., Carpenter 

2040064 Teets, Roscoe H., Painter . 

1806469 Tesche, Theodore L., Carpenter 

2140063 Thayer, Wm. H. H., Miner . 



Feb. 22. 1918 
Feb. 22, 1918 



Feb. 25, 1918 

Feb. 27, 1918 

April 15, 1918 

April 26. 1918 

Feb. 24, 1918 

Feb. 22, 1918 

Feb. 23, 1918 

Feb. 22, 1918 



May 
Apr. 
Apr. 



May 
Apr. 
Apr. 
Apr. 
May 
Apr. 
Apr. 
Apr. 
Apr. 
Dec. 
Apr. 
May 
Apr. 
Apr. 



May 
May 
Apr. 
May 



2044885 Smith, Jasper L., Carpenter . April 29, 1918 

2015825 Snyder, Frank E., Carpenter , April 29, 1918 

214569 Snyder, Rodney V., Farmer . . Feb. 24, 1918 

2137284 Solsaa, Edwin, Thresher . . . Feb. 26, 1918 

1807464 Spence, Robert W., Engineer . Feb. 21, 1918 Apr 



2041266 '^'Splitstone, Raymond J., Farmer April 15, 1918 May 

2139448 Spragg, Alfred W., Teamster . Feb. 25, 1918 Apr. 
2139941 *Stableski, Joseph, Leatherworker Mar. 5, 1918 Apr. 

2139449 Stevens, Wm. A., Watchmaker . Feb. 23, 1918 Apr. 
2047393 Stich, Albert A., Carpenter . April 27. 1918 May 



Feb. 22, 1918 Apr. 



Apr. 
Apr. 



Apr. 
Apr. 

May 
May 
Apr. 
Apr. 

Apr. 

Apr. 



2139455 Thieman, Albert J., Saw-Mill Man Feb. 26, 1918. Apr. 

2016712 Thomas, Clyde H., Farmer . April 15, 1918 May 

2141384 *Thompson, Harry H., Machinist . Feb. 24, 1918 Apr. 

1808974 Tigue, James, Laborer . . . Feb. 23, 1918 Apr. 

2034322 Tio, Alfred F., Farmer . . . Mar. 29, 1913 May 

2028935 Tomeki, George, Waiter . . Nov. 19, 1917 May 

2141387 Tompkins, Lonnie P., Bridgeman Feb. 24, 1918 Apr 



23. '18. Pvt. Icl.. Aug. 3, '18 

1. 1918 .... Private 

1, 1918. Pvt. Icl. June 6, '18 

Corp., Aug. 3, 1918 

Sgt., Nov. 21, 1918 

23, 1918 .... Private 

1, 1918 .... Private 

1, '18. Horseshoer, Nov. 1, '18 

1, '18. Pvt. Icl., Sept. 15, '18 . 

23. 1918 .... Private 

1, 1918 .... Private 

1, 1918 .... Private 

1, '18. Corp., Mav 1. 1918 

1, '18. Pvt. Icl., Sept. 15. 1918 

23. 1918 .... Private 

1, 1918 .... Private 

21. 1918 .... Private 

1. 1918 .... Private 

1, 1918. Pvt. Icl.. Mav 1, '18 

Corp., Mav 10. 1918 

Sgt., May 20, 1918 

23. 1918 .... Private 

23. 1918 .... Private 

1. 1918 .... Private 

8, 1918 .... Private 

Pvt. Icl-, June 1, 1919 

1, 1918. Corp., June 6, 1918 

Sgt., Aug. 3, 1918 

Sgt. Icl., Nov. 21, 1918 

29, 1918 .... Private 

1, 1918 .... Private 

1, 1918 .... Private 

1. '18. Pvt. Icl., Mav 20. '18 

23, 1918 . . . .' Private 

Pvt. Icl.. Nov. 21. 1918 

Corp., Apr. 1, 1918 

1, 1918 .... Private 

Pvt. Icl., June 1, 1918 

1, 1918 .... Private 

1, 1918 .... Private 

Pvt. Icl., Apr. 19. 1918 

Corp., June 1, 1919 

1, 1918 .... Private 

1, '18. Pvt. Icl., Aug. 3, '18 

Corp., Nov. 21, 1918 

29, 1918 .... Private 

23, 1918. Pvt. Icl., Sept. 15, '18 

1, 1918. Cook, Aug. 3, '18 

1, 1918. Corp., May 1, '18 

Sgt., June 1, 1918 

1, 1918 .... Private 

1, 1918. Pvt. Icl., May 20, '18 

Corp., June 6, 1918 

Sgt., Oct. 23. 1918 

1, 1918. Pvt. Icl., May 10, '18 

Corp., May 20,1918 

29, '18. Pvt. Icl., Sept. 15. '18 

1, '18. Pvt. Icl., Sept. 15, '18 

1, 1918 .... Private 

Wagoner, Nov. 1, 1918 

29, 1918 .... Private 

21. 1918 .... Private 

1, 1918. Pvt. Icl., Sept. 15, '18 



Serial Civil Date of 

Number Name Occupation Enlistment 

2028936 *Topolski, Albert, Laborer 



2140152 Underwood, Ralpb S., Student . Feb. 23, 19 

2139457 Unruh, Herman F.. Farmer . Feb. 26, 19 
2047127 Urbanowski, Stanley, Press Op. April 29, 19 

2139458 VanRoekel, William, Teacher . Feb. 26, 19 

2139459 Varey, Mark E., Farmer . . Feb. 23, 19 
2139461 Wahlig, Charels E., Photographer Feb. 23, 19 

2049092 Wallace, Lloyd L.. Carpenter . April 26, 19 

2140710 Warner, Alfred R., Farmer . . Feb. 23, 19 

2043668 Watt, Robert, Carpenter . . April 25, 19 

2139468 Welsh, Mike, Laborer . . . Feb. 23, 19 

2141391 Wetterlind, Ernest G., Teamster Feb. 22, 19 

2049348 *Witchuk, Adam D., Laborer 

2043323 Woods, Osco W., Carpenter . April 26, 1918 

2046435 *Zeller, Robert, Laborer 



t Indicates discharges. 
* Indicates transfers out. 



DISCHARGES 



Date of 

Assignments 
May 29, 1918 . . 
Apr. 1, '18. Pvt. Icl 
Apr. 1, 1918 . . 
May 23, 1918 . . 
Apr. 1, '18. Pvt. Id. 
Apr. 1, 1918 . . 
Apr. 1, '18. Pvt. Icl 
Corp., 
May 23, 1918 . . 
Apr. 1, 1918 . . 
May 23, 1918 . . 
Apr. 1, 1918 . . 
Apr. 1, 18. Pvt. Icl. 
May 23, 1918 . . 
May 23, 1918 . . 
May 23. 1918 . . 



Promotions 

Private 

May 10, '18 

Private 

Private 

, Sept. 15, '18 
. Private 

, May 10, '18 

June 6, 1918 
Private 
Private 
Private 
Private 

, Sept. 15, '18 
Private 
Private 
Private 



Gross, Philip S May 21, 1918 

Heffner, John D May 2, 1918 

Krohn, Oscar N May 7, 1918 

Lundoen. John A May 2, 1918 

Pletke, Frank H May 20. 1918 

Robinson, Charles L May 2, 1918 

Schmitz, Peter W May 24, 1918 



Physically Unfit 



TRANSFERS 



Bechtel, John S. . . . June 20, 1918 

Blackstone, Earl H. . . . June 28, 1918 

Blasingame, Robert L. . . May 31, 1919 

Bowlby, Charles M. . . . May 1, 1919 

Brose, Gustave B. . . . June 15, 1918 

Carlson, Oscar R. . . . Nov. 13, 1918 

Clark, Joseph May 31, 1918 

Davis, Herman G. . . . June 15, 1918 

De Fields, Alex .... Jan. 7, 1919 

Demaria, Antonino . . . May 31, 1918 

DeVowe, Ernest .... June 20. 1918 

Duffin. Charles W. . . . June 15, 1918 

Dugue, Oswald .... Febi 3, 1919 

Foti, Francesco .... June 29, 1918 

Gall, Gustave A May 6, 1919 

Herbeck, Anton P. . . . May 31, 1918 

Hinz, Harry June, 1, 1919 

Hoeksema, Edward . . . June 30, 1918 

Holloran, Francis W. . . July 28, 1918 

Januszewiski, Robert . . . May 19, 1919 

Johnson, Albion K. . . . May 1. 1919 

Johnson, Axel B Aug. 3, 1918 

Karkowski, Peter . . . Sept. 15, 1918 

Klein, Gradis G May 17, 1919 

Klopping, Victor A. . . Aug. 21, 1918 

Koch, Irving A May 31, 1918 



Depot Brigade, Camp Custer, Mich. 

Camp Merritt Hospital, Camp Merritt, N. J. 

Engr. Repl., Camp Humphreys, Va. 

First Replacement Depot St. Aignan. 

Depot Brigade, Camp Custer, Mich. 

Regt. Hij. Det., Gievres, France. 

Engr. Replacement, Camp Humphreys, Va. 

Depot Brigade, Camp Custer, Mich. 

First Replacement Depot St. Aignan. 

Engr. Replacement, Camp Humphreys, Va. 

Depot Brigade, Camp Custer, Mich. 

Depot Brigade, Camp Custer, Mich. 

First Replacement Depot St. Aignan. 

Hospital, Hoboken, N. Y. 

First Replacement Depot St. Aignan. 

Engr. Replacement, Camp Humphreys, Va. 

Regt. Hf[. Det., Gievres. France. 

Engr. Replacement, Camp Custer, Mich. 

Regt. Hq. Det., Gievres. France. 

First Replacement Depot St. Aignan. 

First Replacement Depot St. Aignan. 

Army Candidates School, Langers, France. 

Base Hospital No. 9,Camp Montierchaume, France 

Am. Post. Expr. Service. 

Motor Transportation, 1st Army Corps. 

Engr. Replacement, Camp Humphreys, Va. 



Kraft, Eugene C Nov. 13. 19 

Lee, John W Sept. 30, 19 

Lindenmayer, Ernest L. . . Feb. 15, 19 

Lyon, Fred R Sept. 30, 19 

Mapes, Vernie A. . . • April 15, 19 

Michels, Otto K. . . . May 23, 19 

Morenz, August .... May 17, 19 

Mouw, Albert A. . . . April 22, 19 

Mrozek, Frank May 31, 19 

Nicolaisen, Henry B. . . April 10, 19 

Nyquist, Glaus A. . . . April 16, 19 

Otis, Glenn L May 31, 19 

Palmer, William C. . . . May 31, 19 

Pepmueller, Fred W. . . June 15, 19 

Phifer, Earl W June 20, 19 

Piccinni, Donate .... June 15, 19 

Popolski, Albert .... June 18, 19 

Rothrock, Benjamin F. . Nov. 13, 19 

Shook, Oley F Nov. 8, 19 

Splitstone, Raymond J. . . . April 12, 19 

Stableski, Joseph . . . May 29, 19 

Suplicki. Zygumt . . . April 22, 19 

Thompson, Harry H. . . Feb. 5. 19 

Wahlig, Charles E. . . . Oct. 19. 19 

Witchuk, Adam V. . . . May 31, 19 

Zeller, Robert May 31, 19 



Regt. Hq. Det., Gievres, France. 

Motor Transportation, 1st Army Gorps. 

First Replacement Depot St. .\ignan. 

.•Vi'my Candidates School. Samur France. 

First Replacement Depot St. Aignan. 

First Replacement Depot St. Aignan. 

First Replacement Depot St. Aignan. 

Base Hospital, Camp Custer. Mich. 

Engr. Replacement, Camp Humphreys, Va. 

Regt. Hq. Det.. Gievres. France. 

First Replacement Depot St. Aignan. 

Engr. Replacement. Camp Humphreys, Va. 

Engr. Replacement. Camp Humphreys, Va. 

Depot Brigade, Camp Custer. Mich. 

Depot Brigade, Camp Custer. Mich. 

Depot Brigade, Camp Custer, Mich. 

Depot Brigade, Camp Custer. Mich. 

Regt. Hq. Det.. Gievres. France. 

Base Hospital No. 9, Camp Montierchaume, France 

First Replacement Depot St. Aignan. 

Auxiliary Remount Depot, Camp Custer, Mich. 

Base Hospital. Gamp Custer, Mich. 

First Replacement Depot St. Aignan. 

Base Hospital No. 9, Gamp Montierchaume, France 

Engr. Replacement, Camp Humphreys, Va. 

Engr. Replacement, Gamp Humphreys, Va. 



PART II 

{Chronological History) 

IN a history of any company of the 55th Engineers we feel that two Regimental 
Orders ought to be presented intact. Special Order No. 1 issued at Headquarters 
55th Engineers. March 26. 1918. is as follows: 

Par. 1. For the purpose of temporary organization, the men of the 55th 
Engineers will be divided into three companies to be known respectively as "A," 
"B" and "C." 

2. The officers assigned to temporary duty with the 55th Engineers will assume 
duty as follows: 

Lieut. D. H. Plank is appointed Acting Adjutant. 
Lieut. F. H. Parnell is appointed Acting Supply Officer. 
Captain John M. Snead. Commanding Officer Co. "A." 
Captain H. B. Wilson. Commanding Officer Co. "B." 
Captain E. D. Van Loben Sels. Commanding Officer Co. "C." 

3. Barracks were assigned as follows: 

Regimental Headquarters Building No. 4-6 

Company '"A" " "^ No. 29. 32. 43 

Company "B" " No. 28, 4.7, 79 

Company "C ' " No. .50. 5L 83 

Officers' ■ Quarters " No. 40 I East Half ) 

4. Regimental and company offices will be as follows: 

Regimental Headquarters Building No. 46 

Companv "A" "" No. 43 

Company "B" "" No. 47 

Company "C" " No. 50 

By Order of Captain Soiirivine: 

D. H. Plank, 

1st Lt. E. R. C. 

Adjutant. 

Special Order No. 2 issued at Headquarters 55th Engineers. March 27. 1918, 
reads: 

1. We have just received information that 1.071 men of the 55th Engineers 
will arrive early on the morning of the 28th. The first train will probablv arrive 
on spur No. 1 near "A" heating plant between four and five o clock on the morning 
of Thursday the 28th. 

By Order of Captain Sourivine: 

D. H. Plank, 
1st Lt. E. R. C. 
Adjutant 

Following these orders nothing of particular interest to Company "D" men ap- 
pears until order No. 7 was issued. Part of that order dated March 29, 1918, Head- 
quarters 55th Engineers is as follows: 

1. Lieut. Best is appointed Commanding Officer of Companv "C," 55th Engineers. 

By Command of Captain J an Loben Sels: 

J. S. Elwell. 
1st Lt. E. R. C. 

Regt. Adjutant. 




A CORNER OF CAMP VATAN 




CAMP CUSTER BASE HOSPITAL, CAMP CUSTER, .MICH. 










A CORNER OF CAMP CUSTER 



Order No. 9 issued at Headquarters 55th Engineers, March 30, 1918, provides 
in part: 

1. The following named men of the 310th Engineers, now on duty with the 
55th Engineers, are assigned to duty as follows: 

Company "C" 

Sergeant Kurth Corporal Johnson 

Corporal Page Corporal Mills 

Corporal Robinson Private Westbrook 

Private Mandafield Private Johnsmiller 

By Command of Captain J an Lobcn Sels: 

J. S. Elwell, 
1st Lt. E. R. C. 
Regt. Adjutant. 

Special Order No. 10, issued March 30, 1918, provided: 
1. Until further notice Evening Mess will be at 5:00 P. M. 
(Signed same as order No. 9.) 

Special Order No. 11, paragraph 1 to 7 inclusive, divided the men already as- 
signed to the regiment into 7 companies, to be known as "A" to "F" inclusive, and 
Headquarters Company. This order gave Company "D" its first 162 men. 



By Order of Colonel Daley: 



J. -S. Elwell, 
1st Lt. E. R. C. 
Regt. Adjutant. 



Special Order No. 12, issued at Headquarters 55th Engineers, April 1, 1918, states 
in paragraph 3: "In accordance with instructions from Regimental Surgeon, all 
Mess Kits will be sterilized after each meal by placing them in boiling water for five 
or ten minutes.'' 

The trains scheduled to arrive on Thursday morning at four or five reached Cus- 
ter at about nine o'clock that morning. The men were received in "Y" No. 86 until 
such time as they could be taken to Headquarters Building and assigned. Friday 
and Saturday were spent in getting the men settled and organized. The only forma- 
tions were to give setting up exercises. On Sunday morning. March 30, 1918, the 
regiment stood muster for the first time in its history. It was a formation long to 
be remembered as any one who was there will testify. During the whole time that 
we stayed at Custer, no one witnessed a worse "Dust Storm" than on that day. After 
noon mess came another formation that is worthy of mention. The regiment was 
formed for a "Hike." It was extremely warm for the season, with a high wind driv- 
ing the sand and dust in clouds, and the 55th was given an introduction to the 
country southeast of camp. The hike was long enough, so that there was no tempta- 
tion to stroll even within the "Quarantine Sector" that evening. 

But better times were to follow. The next week saw the men in both barracks 
organized and divided up for instruction in the schools of the "Soldier" and the 
"Squad." Corporal Johnson, Corporal Schmidt and Private Johnsmiller were in 
charge of the drilling under the direction of Lieut. Best and Captain Van Loben Sels. 
The men had practically all been drilled for a month at Dodge or Meade, but as they 
came from various organizations there had been nothing particularly uniform in their 
drill, and so it meant much hard work to get them to work together. The work was 




OUR GIEVRES HOME 



sometimes monotonous to those who had been through it elsewhere, but very essential 
for the good of the group. 

During this period in quarantine, while the 310th drill masters were with us, 
much of the hard work that moulded the regiment into one deserving the name of the 
"Snappy 55th" was done. Much credit is due Corporals Johnson and Schmidt and 
Private Johnsmiller for the pains-taking, strenuous work they did for Company "D." 
Thev were largely responsible for making Company "D" the best in the Regiment, 
which we believe it became to be. 

Special Order No. 17. issued April 4, 1918, says in paragraph 1: "In accordance 
with paragraphs 1 to 7 inclusive, R. S. 0. No. 11, this Regiment will become a seven 
company organization at Reveille, April 8, 1918 as follows: 

Quartered Mess in 

Company in Building Company Commander Building 

Hq. Det. No. 46 Lieut. Frayer No. 42 and No. 47 

Co. "A" No. 32 and Upper 29 Captain George No. 32 

Co. "B" No. 43 and Lower 29 Lieut. Green No. 43 

Co. "C" 47 and Upper 28 Lieut. Khachadooran No. 47 

Co. "D" 50 and Lower 28 Captain Holden No. 50 

Co. "E" 51 and Llpper 83 Captain Anderson No. 51 

Co. "F" 79 and Lower 83 Lieut. Best No. 79 

2. Companies will mess in their own mess-halls, each barracks separately in 
accordance with the Regimental Surgeon's orders." 

Regimental Order No. 17, issued April 9, 1919, provides in paragraph 9: "The 
following named men of the 310th Engineers, now on special duty with the 55th 
Engineers, are attached to companies as follows: 

Company "D" 
Sergeant Kurth, Herman Corporal Johnson, John E. 

Corporal Schmidt. Emil F. Private Johnsmiller, W. P. 

In paragraph 10 the following named men from Cooks and Bakers School now 
on special duty with the 55th Engineers, are attached to companies as follows: 

Company "D" 

Sergeant Fritz, RR. 1st Cook Campbell 

1st Cook Schang 2nd Cook Frost. Ed. 

2nd Cook Cunningham, C. D. 2nd Cook Stables 

By Special Order No. 20, issued April 12, 1918. the following men were detailed 
on special duty as ^'Student Cooks:" 

Company "D"' 
Anyan, George Koch, Irving H. 

Kersting. Charles N. Degen, Nicklous 

Bartsch, Gustav Teders, Henry J. 

Van Roekel, William 

By Special Order No. 19, issued April 10, 1918, in paragraph 1: "The follow- 
ing men are detailed on special duty with Acting Sergeant Bugler Tannehill and 
will report to him each day at 7:45 A. M., and 1:45 P. M., in front of Barracks 
No. 43." 

Company "D" 
Stableski, J. S. Brown. Harry M. 

Special Order No. 16 of date April 7, 1918, paragraph No. 6: "Capt. William 
W. Holden assigned to 55th Engineers per par. N. 57, S. O., 78 W. D., April 3rd, 




H^^ "~ f-^ — ^ s^ /^ ft. 



^- — ''* "^ A "T^ ^'^ 




GOI^ 









* 1 If 1 





FRANCE 



1918, and having reported to these headquarters April 6th, 1918, is assigned to 
Company 'D' as commanding officer of that organization." 

Captain Holden having arrived, the alTairs of Company "D" were placed in very 
capable hands. At last one could begin with a definite unit and build a company. 
The captain was a splendid organizer and possessed a remarkable talent for form- 
ing speedy though just estimates of his men. Thus the company very rapidly dis- 
played the ear marks of a real organization, and drew favorable comments for both 
its captain and itself. The first non-coms chosen by Captain Holden were made 
corporals and were in order as follows: Rothtrock, Teets, Black, C. E. Jackson, 
Shepard, and Mayo. R. R. Marsh was especially selected by Col. Daley as corporal 
band master of the 55th Regimental Band. Rothtrock was made the acting first 
sergeant and soon thereafter appointed to that position. Suffice it to say that the 
right man had been selected for the place. To have filled that position for six 
mcirths of distinct trial for his organization, to have discharged his military duties 
to the entire satisfaction of those in command over him, and still to retain the good- 
will of every man in the company, is an accomplishment of which he may well be 
proud. 

Nearly the entire first two months were spent in quarantine. In fact the men 
began to get used to ihe quarantine, and actually wondered whether they would not 
be lost when it came to an end and they could go wherever they wished. Much 
credit can be given the "Y," particularly unit No. 86, for the way they enter- 
tained us while we were among the shut-ins. We also invested in some music, rented 
a piano, and did our best to shake off Dame Care. 

R. S. 0. No. 31, issued April 30, 1918, provides in par. 7: "First Lieut. Walter 
B. Bredbeck assigned to 55th Engineers by telegraphic authority, A. G. 0., April 
26, 1918, having reported at these headquarters this date is assigned for duty to 
Company "D" Engrs.," while R. S. 0. No. 34 of date May 1, 1918, provides in 
paragraph 6: "Second Lieut. John Coles assigned to 55th Engineers per telegraph 
authority, A. G. 0., April 21, 1918, and having reported at these headquarters this 
date is assigned to duty with Company "D," 55th Engrs.' 

The first engineer work done by the company was in building a road to its new 
drill grounds. Surveying squads, it is true, had some practice in their line before 
this time, but this was the initial construction. Thereafter the woods near this field 
became an engineer construction workshop with attention to bridges, rip rap work, 
trestles, pile drivers, etc., etc. Railroad construction and repair work was done on 
the lines about camp. A very practical engineering feat was the repairing of 
barracks about camp after the destructive wind storm that swept the cantonment. 

Mention should be made here of the treatment accorded this command while it 
was stationed at Camp Custer by the people of both Battle Creek and Kalamazoo 
and vicinity. In coming to camp to entertain us while in quarantine, on opening 
their homes to us thereafter; in receiving us in their churches and lodges, in fair 
treatment from the commercial standpoint, these people not only had high ideals 
but put such into practice. The boys will long remember their stay at Camp Custer 
with sincere gratitude to the good people they came to know there. 

Formal retreat was always very largely observed by this command. These 
ceremonies were generally the occasion for visitors, but the first time the 55th ap- 
peared at length for careful inspection was during the visit of the Birmingham 
Michigan Red Cross Society on Friday, May 24th. The society spent the whole 
day with the 55th, following a carefully arranged program. They watched bayonet 
drills, rifle exercises, setting up exercises; they observed the type of house keepers 
the boys were when they inspected the barracks, they enjoyed a real army dinner, 
they listened to the pep and spirit displayed in yells and songs, and after wit- 
nessing the Regimental Review, presented the regiment with "the colors," and left 
at the closing of the day loud in their praises of the snappy 55th. 




\ ATW CWIP 



Perhaps the social event which came nearest including the whole company mem- 
bership was the party given by Company "D" in the mess hall on Wednesday 
evening, May 29th. The entire company worked lo make it the grand success Com- 
pany "D" always attained. The officers of the whole regiment were invited and 
were largely present. Most of the program had been carried out and a distinct 
hit already scored when "Pete" came to us with the offer of a whirlwind finish to 
the program, giving us some numbers by the ladies' glee club of Kalamazoo Normal, 
the club having just closed a concert at Hut No. 86. (And we must pause here to 
say that this was characteristic of ''Fete" and "Dad" and the others at Hut No. 86 
— they were always on hand to push.) We surely had a whirlwind finish to that 
evening's program, and then following some dandy eats, some informal toasts and 
a good sing, and we went to bed — yes, somewhat after taps, but that's one of the 
bright spots in Company "D's" history that not a man who was present will soon 
forget. 

The next day after this party we were to go to Kalamazoo to participate in the 
Decoration Day ceremonies. The whole regiment was to appear there in parade, 
drills, baseball games, etc. In return for our part in the day's successes the good 
people of Kalamazoo were to provide for our transportation and entertainment. 

The day was a hard one. It began early and lasted — yes, here I might well say 
dragged over into the next one. The whole regiment finally loaded on the interur- 
ban after a morning of preparation in a drizzling rain. Light packs, rifles, and 
side arms made up the equipment. Toward noon the sun came out and during the 
parade seemed to do not its bit but its best to melt us. Crowds lined the streets 
everywhere, and the city was in most gala attire. Our parade ended at the College 
Ground, where the college girls offered a fine pageant on the greensward. After this 
our regimental ball team won from the college boys 2-1. The afternoon program 
closed with a Regimental Review and Formal Retreat. A more attractive setting 
for such a day's events could not have been afforded than that college field. It was 
a truly beautiful place. 

Marching back up town and stacking arms, we were ready for supper, yes, ready 
for supper. And it was such a supper as the good ladies of the various Kalamazoo 
organizations knew how to provide — speedily served and fully entertained, the while. 
The evening was at the disposal of the individual fellow, but the special attraction was 
a big dance with the major portion of the Kalamazoo young ladies attending. At 
11:15 all men reported at the stacks, and we reached Custer again just before day- 
light. 

At this point three more regimental special orders claim our attention. Order 
No. 69, dated June 15th, 1918, in paragraph (3) reads: "First Lieutenant Edgar 
E. Parson, E. R. C, assigned to the 55th Engineers per par. 45, R. S. 0., 116 W. 
D., May 17, 1918, and having reported at these headquqarters this date is assigned 
to Company "D." And R. S. 0. No. 74, dated June 13, 1919, par. (5) reads: "First 
Lieutenant Howard P. Savage, E. R. C, assigned to the 55th Engineers per telegraph 
authority, A. G. 0., June 10, 1918, and having reported at these headquarters, is 
this date assigned for duty to Company "D." R. S. 0. No. 74, issued June 13, 1918, 
is as follows: "(1) Thomas D. Best, having been commissioned 2nd lieutenant, 
E. N. A., per telegraph authority, A. G. 0., effective June 10, 1918, and assigned to 
55th Engineers by the Commanding General 85th Division, and having reported 
at these headquarters, is assigned for duty to Company "D," 55th Engineers." 

Order No. 72, issued June 10, 1918, is given simply to recall a place much fre- 
quented by Company "D" men during their hours off. It reads as follows in para- 
graph (2) : "Effective this date the following men of Company "D," this regiment, 
will be relieved from all other duty at 3 P. M., on Mondays, Tuesdays. Thursdays 
and P'ridays, and will report to Lieutenant Hill at Camp Exchange Building No. 



68 from 4:30 to 9 P. M. On Wednesdays and Saturdays they will report for this 
duty from 1 P. M. to 9 P. M., on Sundays and Holidays from 8:30 A. M. to 11:30 
A. M. and from 1:30 P. M. to 4:30 P. M." 

Pvt. John E. Peterson Pvt. 1-c D. Burnquist 

Pvt. E. A. Schmidt Pvt. 1-c C. W. McKusick 

Pvt. 1-c. W. G. Sando 

In addition to this canteen we know the fellows would not have us omit from 
the record the famous resort of ''Dog Town," officially spoken of but less well known 
as the Liberty Club. Company "D" men we know did their share to beat down the 
cross lots path to that resort. 

Near the end of May the 55th began extra efforts to fill up their regiment to 
full war strength. Company "D" received its quota. Bldg. No. 28 was vacated for 
ihe officers' training school, and lower No. 83 was used for all new men. The fol- 
lowing twelve men were assigned by Captain Holden to drill the new recruits: Ser- 
geants C. E. Jackson, H. E. Clarke, and 0. R. Carlson; Corporals Wm. Dames, W. D. 
Mayo, and R. H. Teets; Privates Icl. J. S. Betchel, D. Burnquist, H. C. Pahde, W. L. 
Peterson, W. H. H. Thayer, and C. E. Wahlig. Strenuous drill was engaged in, for 
it means doing more than double work to instruct these men in the time assigned 
for the task. 

Two other events must not be overlooked in this narrative, for they impressed 
upon the 55th the fact that there were plenty of ardent admirers of the organiza- 
tion's efforts. The first of these events was the presentation of a Regimental Re- 
view on June 6th, 1918, of the Regimental Standard given by Mr. M. A. Meade of 
3d North State Street, Chicago; the second was the presentation at a similar Regi- 
mental Review on June 15th of a fine baton to Private Molleston, the Drum Major, 
by the South Bend ( Ind. I News Times. 

Before leaving Custer twenty-seven men were naturalized, receiving their final 
papers in a dav. The movement was continued at Camp Merritt where five more 
aliens became full fledged American citizens. This has been one of the many good 
accomplishments of the great World War. It left Company "D" with scarcely a 
man not a full fledged American citizen. The percentage of men in the company 
thus made citizens probably was not higher than that of the average company in the 
U. S. Army, and the effect will be noteworthy upon the American Nation. 

The week of the 16th to the 22nd of June saw packing operations that had al- 
ready been under way for a fortnight carried to a rapid completion, while the freight 
was moved to the cars. Thus it was very apparent that the 5.5th's departure was be- 
coming a matter of hours onlv. The rest that the men, especially officers and non- 
coms, didn't get in this last week is a matter worthy of comment. What would have 
happened in civil life if a man had been routed out of bed at 2:00 A. M. to draw 
one chevron? But, — "You're in the army now," was as cheerfully accepted as it 
could have been only by well disciplined troops. 

The week was nearlv over when the Company "D" hoodoo once more threatened 
to upset the dope for his company. Private Hoeksema developed what was said 
to be scarlet fever. Barrack No. 50 was placed in quarantine and moved to "Camp 
Hoeksema" after mess on the evening of June 16. The men who had to pack 
and move may have thought they had it hard, but the captain, lieutenants and the 
office force were sure they could give them cards and spades in that respect. The 
official orders were changed four times in thirty-six hours. Everybody pessimistically 
speculated on the outcome. At last the order stood that the men were to be allowed 
to entrain, but the quarantined men were to be kept separated from the remainder 
of the company. Thus, after two nights and one day, "Camp Hoeksema" was aban- 
doned on the morning of the 21st of June. 

Finally everything was ready on that morning, and from 8:00 to 9:00 o'clock we 



entrained. The regiment traveled in three sections. Our section reached Detroit 
at 4:00 P. M. and spent about three hours in exercising and resting preparatory to 
the journey ahead of us. The trip was generally enjoyable, though the fellows were 
tired at the start and not able to sleep much enroute, as sleepers were not a part of 
our good fortune on this trip. The people along the way were very enthusiastic and 
very good to us through the medium of the "Y," the Red Cross and the individuals. 

We reached Camp Merritt at 9:00 P. M. on the evening of June 22nd. Here was 
no rest for the weary, as was to be revealed to us during our stay at what proved 
to be six days. All equipment was to be tested, and if found faulty reissued. If any 
man got through the "steenth" check and got across the pond without everything he 
was expected to draw and carry with him he would have been clever indeed, but per- 
haps S. 0. L. later. 

In addition to the issuing or reissuing of equipment, the formations for setting 
up exercises were not overlooked. There was no open space large enough for drill 
purposes, and so drills were omitted. But the various companies had extra duty 
policing, and everyone will remember a bit of road construction that occupied their 
attention during two or three of the days spent there. Camp Merritt was indeed a 
neat and trim cantonment, and the men should have been glad for a longer stay 
there under less exacting conditions. The expectation of passes to New York and 
elsewhere faded fully on the night of June 27th when we carried our barracks bags 
across camp to the car that was to take them to the wharf. 

Liberty Theatre was well patronized that night, and the fellows who were there 
saw a splendid bill for their last one before the cruise. The next morning the 
company was up early, and after the customary policing, which Company "D" was 
famous for before moving, we marched to the station, where we entrained for Hoboken. 
Soon at the end of our rail journey we marched across the city to the wharf. Here 
the American Red Cross served us with the last "Real Eats" we were to have until 
long after we reached France. 

About noon we went aboard the good ship Siboney, the advance guard of the 
regiment. The ship was clean, comfortable and cool, and at least some of us who 
had formed pictures of an old wooden hulk with wooden bunks and quarters in the 
hold, which we truly might have drawn, had to change our ideas to accommodate the 
real situation. We were assigned to "B" deck in really the best part of the ship. 
The other companies of the 55th followed on Saturday, June 29th, and the ship, car- 
rying over 4,820 men — nearly 2,000 more than it should have accommodated — set 
sail on Sunday, June 30th, about 11:30 o'clock. 

We wonder what the thoughts of each individual man was as the ship sailed 
out of the harbor past the Statute of Liberty on that long journey? There were 
fifteen ships in the convoy as it originally started, but two were compelled to turn 
back after the first few days' journey. The movement of the various ships in the 
convoy was interesting — their adroit twisting and turning both as individual ships 
and as a fleet — as they nosed their way across the deep blue. 

After a day or two out we were initiated into the pleasant boat drills which oc- 
cupied, at least, each morning and evening. Whoever has heard the rude clang 
of that bell and the siren following has experienced nothing more startling unless 
he may unhappily have made the acquaintance of the rattle-snake of the plains. 
The drills lasted from thirty minutes to an hour and a half, depending on the loca- 
tion on our trip. The trip was made over a uniformly quiet sea, and so not many 
of the fellows were sick. There were exceptions, however, and we dare say some 
would almost as soon stay in France as make the return journey. 

The mess should not go unmentioned. One word would almost express our 
opinion of it, especially as to quality, but it might not look well in print, and so it 
will not be used here. Suffice it to say that it was not the trip alone that caused about 
4,000 men to land almighty gaunt, and hungry as wolves. 




VATAN CAMP AND OUT-"SKIRTS" 



The trip was made without any especial excitement, and no accidents occurred. 
Two days before putting into port a fleet of destroyers steamed out to meet us. Dur- 
ing boat drill one morning they suddenly appeared above the horizon, and the sight 
was indeed thrilling. Land was sighted about 4:00 P. M. on the 12th of July, and 
enthusiasm ran high with the prospects of again setting foot on good old terra firma. 
The spectacle of that string of more than thirty ships steaming into harbor was one 
no man who witnessed it will soon forget. We finally came to anchor in the harbor, 
and freight juggling was begun. At last the port holes and doors could be opened 
at night, and the spell of silence could be broken. Everyone was happy at the 
prospects of going ashore in the morning. There was very little rest that night. 

We walked the gang plank the next morning and set foot on French soil soon 
thereafter. Most of the men will long remember that jaunt out to the camp grounds. 
Well, we were finally located — the pup tents up — when a considerable detail was 
mustered to transport the supplies from Pontanezen Barracks. At last a bunch of 
tired soldiers were permitted to roll in and surely must have enjoyed another night's 
sleep in the fresh air, though the beds were on the hard ground. 

Nobody of the 55th would enthuse much over that stay at Brest. That, we found, 
applies to practically all the men who have entered France by that port. The web- 
foot of Oregon and Washington form about the only exception to the rule. After 
five days spent in this "rest" camp we packed up and loaded, for "someivhere" else 
in France. This was our first real introduction to those shrieking iron midgets that 
the French originally thought were engines, and also our first close contact with that 
other phase of French railways marked, "Hommes 40, Chevaux 8." Luckily the Com- 
pany "D" men didn't draw these special cars on that trip. 

The journey across France was indeed an enjoyable one, even though the con- 
veniences usually incident to such travel were lacking. The country was surely 
beautiful, and it was such a relief to travel once more on land rather than on sea. 
The people were interesting as to customs and manners, everything was novel. But 
perhaps the thing that most impressed the men was the splendid spirit that was 
evidenced on all sides. We felt it was truly remarkable for a country that had been 
so long at war. Tho we were not aware of it we were traveling across France on a 
day that will be most memorable in world history, the 18th day of July, 1918. 

We reached Gievres on the evening of the 19th and encamped about half a mile 
north of the station, near stockade No. 2. The next morning saw us introduced to 
the task — this was no "rest" camp — no, it made no such pretence. Our work was 
to consist of various types of construction, beginning with railways but branching 
out soon into warehouses, both steel and wood frame, roads, barracks, tanks, in fact 
anything that was to be built. In addition a number of the men were put to driving 
trucks, motor-cycles and tractors. Having spent six weeks on the job arid having 
fully proven itself, the 55th was given charge of the construction work of the whole 
project. 

Thus the company was employed at Gievres, but from the first it was evident that 
not all the command was to be stationed at Gievres. Group after group went out on 
detached service within a radius of fifty miles of Gievres. Some of the places where 
Company "D" men were stationed were, Air Service, Mur de Sologne, Le Mans, Tours, 
Dierre and Langeais. During this period at Gievres many men were sent out with 
convoys, with train and truck. This was very popular at the start, but enthusiasm 
over any but the best prospects soon waned. 

The first few weeks of our stay in Gievres our rations were very unsatisfactory, 
and the general living conditions not particularly pleasant. However, when the 
company moved into the new barracks across the way from its first location, and 
became more or less permanently attached to the camp, living conditions improved 
100 per cent. Things were arranged to add to the comfort of the command, not 



the least of these being the erection of a new bath house. Its "comfort" opening was 
quite an event, and the river Cher lost its regular quota ot bathers. 

During these first months at Gievres Company "D" certainly did its quota of 
work, and the men were usually ready to rest, do their laundering, or at least keep 
close in camp on the one short period they had to themselves, Sunday afternoon. At 
length they were given all of Sunday, and then there was a scramble for passes to 
Romorantin. Ville de Tranche or elsewhere in the zone of permission. It was a 
relief from the monotony of camp confinement that the fellows appreciated, and on 
the whole it tended to tone up the morale. 

On Julv 25. 1918. Lieut. Bredbeck was placed on temporary duty in connection with 
engineering operations at Tours (Indre et Loire), per par. 4, Special Order No. 8, 
Headquarters S. E. 0., Intersection West. While the company was still housed in the 
tents. Captain Holden was attached to Headquarters, acting in the capacity of major 
for the Second Battalion. During the time he was away from the company his duties 
were very efficientlv attended to bv Lieutenant Savage. At last, near the end of 
August, Captain Holden was restored to his command, and the official composition 
of the company remained the same as at the time it came overseas. 

At Custer there had been perfected a "Y" group organization whose purpose it 
was to keep forward any good thing in the company. Religious meetings had been 
held first on Sundays, but the time was soon changed to Wednesday evenings. This 
group decided to use one evening every six weeks for a social event. The first 
trial of this plan came on August 28th, and was such a splendid success that the 
idea was thoroly justified. Company "D" with the aid of the band furnished the 
talent for the program. At the next program, offered on Oct. 7th, some 40 officers 
and 400 men were present. The talent for this program was drawn largely from 
outside sources. This time the standard of the first evening was upheld if not ex- 
celled. In addition to the programs, cocoa and cookies were always served on these 
evenings, and the ladies of the "Y" were always on hand to help "with the serving. 

Soon after our arrival at Gievres, Colonel Daley, who had been commanding the 
55th since its organization, was transferred to the 6th Engineers, then at the front. 
The colonel now drew upon the regiment for four officers, two captains and two 
lieutenants. Thus Captain Holden left us for his new command in the 6th Engineers, 
per telegraph authority Hdqrs. A. E. F., Sept. 7th, 1918. There were many blue 
soldiers in Company "D" on the evening that the captain's departure was announced. 
The captain said as much on his own part too, avowing that he was glad to go to 
the front, but that it took all the joy out of it to leave his company behind. Those 
who knew him best felt that he expressed his exact thought in the matter. 

But it is always darkest just before the dawn. There was one officer in the 55th 
who had always been held in the highest esteem by every man in the company. Of 
all the officers the men had come to know he would have been their first choice. The 
man was Captain Wyatt S. Hawkins; and it became Company "D's" good fortune to 
have him assigned as its commanding officer on Sept. 11, 1918. The standing and 
morale of the company were to be upheld. 

At this point a promotion occurred, that, unfortunatelv for us, meant a transfer. 
The order dated Oct. 5, 1918. follows: "R. S. 0. No. 119, paragraph 1. 1st Lieut. 
Thomas D. Best, Co. 'D,' 55th Engineers, having been promoted from 2nd lieut.. is 
relieved of duty with that organization and is attached to Headquarters, .55th 
Engineers, and will report to the Commanding Officer thereof for duty. 
By order of Lieut. Col. Williamson, 
J. S. Elwell, 

Capt. 55th Engrs., Adjutant." 

On Oct. 15, 1918, Lieut. John Coles was placed on temporary duty in connection 
with engineering operations at Chateau du Loire (Sarthe), per par. 5 S. 0. No. 9, 



Hdqrs. S. E. 0., Inter Sec. (West). On Oct. 18, 1918, Lieut. Parsons was put on 
temporary duty in connection with engineering operations at Dourdan (Seine et 
Oise), per par. 1 S. 0., No. 95 Hdqrs. S. E. 0., Inter Sec. (West I. 

Mention should be made of the football team that represented the 2nd Battalion 
on the gridiron during the fall of 1918. By far the larger percentage of players were 
Company "D" men. The showing of the team was very creditable. 

The Company was organized along the line of educational work as well. Classes 
in geography, French and English were held. The mess hall was lighted for study 
and recitation. A library was maintained in the company office, which was patron- 
ized by all the men in that section of the camp. In connection with the educational 
program lectures were given by well-known men of the American lecture platform. 
These lectures were much appreciated by all who heard them. Unfortunately, soon 
after the armistice practically all of this educational work was allowed to lapse because 
of the more ambitious plan supported by the government which was expected soon 
to take its place. In regard to this well-known feature of A. E. F. life in the spring 
of 1919, it is only necessary to say that the Company "D" men had no opportunity to 
share its benefits on account of their isolated position (to be mentioned later) . Further- 
more, of the five applications from the company for permission to attend a French 
or English university, only the one made by Pvt. Icl J. H. Schmidt was favorably 
acted upon. Considering, however, the total number of men sent out from the 
Gievres post under the provision concerned Company "D" was considerably over- 
represented by this one man. 

Whatever may be thought of the conditions which were thus to shut off the logical 
channels for self-improvement in the company, it is certain that speculation on this 
subject was not worrying any large proportion of the men on November 11, 1918. 
Armistice day was of course a red letter day in the history of the organization, so 
far at least as the mental attitude of its members was concerned. On this day the 
one burning question in the collective heart of the -SSth Engineers, as of the whole 
A. E. F., changed automatically from "When will the Huns give in?" to "When do 
we go home?" The actual routine of Company "D" day's work, however, was scarcely 
so much as interrupted, even when a multitude of whistles announced the end of 
hostilities in the greatest war of all history. No order authorizing a ten-minute 
celebration-rest had reached the conscientious non-coms in charge of details, and the 
men of Company "D" were too good soldiers to quit their work without command for 
any mere fluctuation of politics. While their civilian friends in the States took a 
day or two off for the purpose of releasing a dangerous head of enthusiasm, these 
well-trained men calmly continued to nail down floors or tamp railroad ties, know- 
ing full well that in the army all is not changed by one world's war, more or less, 
and that their one best chance for a vacation lay in a general order and a west-bound 
ship. They had known that the armistice was bound to come anyway, and their 
general reaction to its appearance may best be indicated by such an expression as, 
"Well, so far so good. We know we're not done yet, so we won't blow up ; but we're 
glad that things are going about as we planned." To be sure, in the evening after 
working hours they did let themselves go a little by parading into Gievres in a 
self-mobilized, un-officered column of fours, headed by a voluntary and unauthor- 
ized band and accompanied by an ever-increasing throng of stray and noisy soldiers. 
The sequel to this little outburst, however, was such as to impress upon them the fact 
that there was yet no armistice in army discipline. They had broken a rule of the 
camp and accordingly were bluntly ordered back to their barracks, somewhat dis- 
couraged, but still victorious — internationally speaking. 

Altho, as we have indicated, no immediate change in the kind and amount of 
work done at Gievres was noticeable at the time of the armistice, it was not long be- 
fore there was a decided let-up in the strain of war-time work. Part of the work now 
assigned was obviously intended chiefly as a time-filler, and there was little objection 



when a soldier exercised his peace-time prerogative of "soldiering" on the job. Drills 
began to replace work to some extent on the schedule. On November 20th, Com- 
pany "D" drilled all the afternoon, and on the afternoon of November ."iOth there 
was a battalion parade. At about this time also rifles were re-issued, — much to the 
disgust of many of the men, who had hoped to be rid forever of these troublesome 
adjuncts of inspection day. 

About Thanksgiving time, the first of the long series of rumors regarding the 
future date — definite, indefinite, near, remote, or entirely imaginary — of the departure 
of the 5.5th Engineers for the promised land of America, made its appearance. It 
was said that the regiment was to leave camp on December 17th. As a matter of 
fact this was somewhat more than a rumor ^^it was an actual official order, to be dis- 
counted only in so far as it was liable to be annulled by a later one. Officers and 
men alike thought it very probable that they would spend Christmas day, as they 
had spent the preceding F'ourth of July, on the ocean. Preparations were rushed for 
an early departure; all the regimental tools were disposed of and the tools used dur- 
ing the period of waiting were drawn daily from post headquarters. Then the blow 
fell; a later order cancelled the one which had raised sixteen hundred odd hopes, 
and the regiment was left to whatever solace it could find in the rumor-hatching 
activities of its own imaginative personnel, together with the contemplation of pos- 
sible visits to French leave areas. 

In the case of a few, this chance to see more of France was realized almost as 
soon as they learned the truth about their going home. On December 16th, twenty 
men of Company "D" left for St. Malo. a leave area on the Brittany coast, in which 
they were permitted to spend seven days, exclusive of travel, at the expense of the 
American government. These furloughs were theoretically due after four months of 
service in France, but in actual practice they had been very sparingly granted dur- 
ing the war. The first Company "D" men were therefore fortunate in getting away 
only about a month after passes were due them. The majority of the men in the 
company, however, were not so fortunate. One more group of twenty-odd men went 
to St. Malo immediately after the return of the first group, and five men went to 
Cauterey, in southern France, in the latter part of January; but after that no more 
passes were granted until April 6th. From this date until the latter part of May 
there was always at least one leave-party absent at any given time, so that nearly 
every man who desired a furlough, with a few exceptions, got one eventually. 

Although Company "D" had to spend Christmas in the "same old barracks," and 
not on the Atlantic ocean, as it had hoped, the day did not pass entirely unob- 
served. In the first place there was no reveille — a revolutionary state of affairs in 
the army — and breakfast was at o:.'50. Each man received a package from the 
Y. M. C. A. containing candy, gum, tobacco, cigars, cigarettes, etc., — and candy 
of such good quality, or indeed of any quality at all, it was often very hard to 
get. To add to the privilege of the season, it was announced that there would be 
no more afternoon work for a full week! 

Several transfers in the officer personnel of Company "D" went into effect on 
the last day of the year. Captain Wyatt S. Hawkins, who had been acting as com- 
mander of the company since September 11th, was relieved of duty as adjutant of 
the 2nd Battalion and appointed captain of Company "D" per R. S. 0. 149. Dec. 
14, 1918. 1st Lieut. Edgar E. Parsons was relieved of duty with Company "D" and 
assigned to Company "F," per par. 8, R. S. 0. 149, Dec. 14, 1918. 1st Lieut. Charles 
H. Poole was relieved of duty with Company "F" and assigned to Company "D ' 
per par. 9. R. S. O. 149. Dec. 14, 1918. 

The memorable first service stripe party of the 55th Engineers was held at "Y" 
No. 1 in Gievres, the building being wholly reserved for the occasion thru the 
courtesy of the Y. M. C. A. The program was in charge of Sergeant Peterson of 
Company "D," and comprised an exceptionally excellent and varied list of features. 




STONE (JUAURY 



There were "movies," selections by tlie 55th Band, as well as vocal and instrumental 
offerings of many kinds, character stories by Corporal MoUeston, clog dancing, ex- 
hibition, boxing, featuring Mike O'Dowd, the regiment's famous world-champion 
middle-weight, talks by Colonel Williamson, Majors Warren, Byem, and Lynch, and 
Captains Hawkins, Jacobosky, Eddy, and Anderson. Hot chocolate and doughnuts, 
furnished respectively bv the Y. M. C. A. and the companies, were served by the 
"Y" girls. Altogether, this was probably the most pretentious festive occasion in- 
dulged in by the regiment while in France. 

Although this party was held two months to a day after the signing of the armistice, 
a second-stripe party in France was even then considered a possibility. On January 
10th, Companv "D" had begun to repair roads in the neighborhood of Gievres, which 
had been injured by American trucks; and before long it was faced by the bitter 
realization that, because of a general order, road repairing was to be its lot for an 
indefinite number of months to come. It was found necessary to recall a consider- 
able number of men who had been doing specialized work on detached service, and 
to put them to laboring upon the road. It is needless to say that this policy gave rise 
to not a little bitterness, especially in view of the good work that the 55th Engineers, 
including Company "D," was admitted to have done during the war; but what a gen- 
eral order decrees the soldier must obey with as good grace as he can muster. Some 
of the more philosophically minded realized that the ones who had to wait in France 
were better off occupied than unoccupied, even if they had only back-work to do, and 
that the practical expediency of army management makes ideal justice for all con- 
cerned actually impossible. 

A further item was added to the list of varied jobs handled by Company "D" men 
on January 16th, when with some difficulty, permission was gained to send a group of 
men on auto truck convoy to La Rochelle, Marseilles, Le Havre, and Bordeaux. 
This opened up a new and pleasant field of work, since it afforded- an opportunity 
to see France better than the freight convoys had given. After this, truck convoy 
parties were out a good share of the time during the company's stay in France. 

On January 19th, Captain Holden arrived at Gievres on his way back to the 
States from an advanced sector. There he had been in command of Company "C" 
of the 6th Engineers, under Colonel Daley, also formerly of the 55th. Captain 
Holden spent three days with the 2nd Battalion. On the evening of the 20th he 
entertained Company "D" with an account of his experiences at the front; and on 
the following morning he recalled old times by taking charge of reveille, assisted 
by Master Engineer Rothtrock, his former first sergeant. 

The first important move in connection with road work was made on January 24th, 
when a detail of thirty-six men, including non-commissioned officers, was sent to the 
stone quarry at Anjouin, about fifteen miles southeast of Gievres. This detail al- 
tho its personnel was shifted from time to time, remained permanently at the quarry 
as long as the road work lasted. Under the efficient supervision of Master Engineer 
Carlson, who had charge of the project, the requisite machinery was soon installed, 
and the crushed rock for the road was forthcoming in generous quantities as 
soon as it was called for. A lieutenant-colonel who inspected the quarry stated that 
he had seen none in France more "workable " and ready for business. 

While it may not appear from this history that the 55th Engineers, as a regiment^ 
was ever obliged to undergo heavy bombardment in the course of its operations, as 
much can hardly he said for this stone quarry detail of Company "D." In blasting 
out the solid rock as many as fifty sticks of dynamite, eight by one and one-fourth 
inches in size, were used at a single shot; and the explosions often hurled heavy 
chuncks of rock so high into the air that they fell far outside the quarry pit. When- 
ever a charge was to be exploded the men of course retreated from the neighborhood 
of the pit, but the distance to which small rocks were thrown made it impractical 
to move to places of safety. The wooden shack which housed the stone-crushe* 



engine was demolished time and again, and even the barracks in which the detail 
lived, a good hundred yards from the pit, did not escape the heaviest missiles. On 
April 12th, at about ten o'clock in the morning, a rock which must have weighed 
originally at least one hundred pounds smashed thru the roof of the building and 
broke into flying fragments when it hit a rafter. Some of the fragments slightly 
bruised Mechanic Miller, who was sitting on a bunk some distance away. One piece 
of the original rock which remained whole was as large as a man's head. At another 
time when Corporal King had charge of a detail which happened to be working 
near the quarry, a rock as large as a baseball hit his arm and severely injured it. 
Considering the fact that the rock was blasted out several times each week-day for 
a period of about four months, the quarry "gang" may well claim- experience 
equivalent to its being under fire, even tho, as it happened, there were no fatalities 
in this particular quarry. There was furthermore always the danger of an accident 
such as that which occurred at the Is-Sur-Til quarry, where the explosion of a case 
of dynamite killed several men and injured many. 

Four days after the quarry detail left Gievres the remainder of Company "D," 
consisting of 205 men and two officers, Captain Hawkins and Lieutenant Savage, 
moved out to a plot of ground about seventeen miles south of Gievres, where they 
pitched squad-tents and made a camp. This action was taken per par. 1, S. 0. 196, 
Hdqrs. S. E. 0., Inter Sec. (West), January 27, 1919. It placed the company in a 
more central location with reference to the particular stretches of road which it 
was to repair. 

At first the living conditions in the new camp were far from pleasant, owing 
to the sea of mud which was the normal state of the ground at this place in the 
winter, or rainy season. Fortunately, however, the men had all been issued rubber 
boots shortly before, and these did yeoman service until permanent floors were laid 
in all the tents and the various parts of the camp had been connected by board walks. 
The work of establishing the camp and making it comfortable occupied a full week, 
but at the end of that time most of the boys agreed that their new home was prefer- 
able in many ways to their old permanent quarters in Gievres. Tho nominally 
completed at this time, the camp received continuously additions and improvements 
as long as it remained standing. The tents were arranged along the sides and one 
end of a rectangular plot containing the flagpole in the center, the line of the open 
end facing the road being continued by a short row of tents on either side. It is 
noteworthy that Colonel Ruffner, chief surgeon of the A. E. F., remarked once after 
passing the camp that it was the neatest and finest tent camp he had seen in France. 

Among the reasons for the men's preference for this camp to the one they had 
left were both the greater freedom from the restrictions of the larger post camp, and 
the more congenial features of the immediate neighborhood. The town of Vatan, 
containing some twenty-five hundred people, was only about a mile and a half away, 
and it was the lot of Company "B" men to be in close contact with these people for 
several months. On the whole, they found that a more normal, stable class of people 
lived here than at Gievres, where the proximity of a big camp to a small town had 
naturally drawn in a floating population of money-seekers. In Vatan many friend- 
ships were made, of which the effects in some cases will probably last for years. 

An idea of Vatan sentiment may be gained from a letter written to the members 
of the company by one of the young ladies of Vatan : 

Vatan, 24th May, 1919. 
La Place, Vatan. 

Good bye to the boys from the 55th Engineers, Company "D." 
Dear Friends: It is a great sadness to us to hear today that you are going to 
leave us in a short time. While you have been around, the time has passed away 
very quickly, and we never realized your departure would be so soon. We wish 



you would have stayed longer, for you know how much we enjoyed your stay in 
Vatan, and how nice friends we found among you. Alas! We will have to go back 
to our monotonous life we were living before you came. We will miss you very 
much and will think of you all very often. Yes, often the conversation about you 
will take place between my sisters and me. We shall always remember how nicely 
and gentlemanly you have treated us. Don't think we are quite selfish, and that 
all our thoughts are for the sorrow we have to lose you. No, we think very much 
about your happiness to meet again your folks you have not seen for such a long 
time. We'll share that happiness, and will live the happy hours you will have when 
you arrive "home." We know how pleased you are to go back to the old civilian 
life again; good life that you left to come to France and help us in the war. 
We appreciate all the sacrifices you have made and wish to thank you from the bot- 
tom of our hearts. Never forget that we think a great deal of you and we feel for 
you very much. 

We bid you a last "Good-Bye " and we wish you the best of luck, that is, specially 
a safe passage. 

Our sincere sympathy goes to you, and we address to you officers, Captain Hawkins 
and Lieuts., our personal kind regards. 

YVETTE AND SiSTERS. 

Y. Pelet, 

Rue Grande, Vatan. Indre. 

"Camp Vatan" might well have become known as an "officers' exchange" camp, 
because of the number of officers who were on duty there temporarily. The medical 
detachment which was stationed with the company was commanded first by 1st 
Lieut. C. E. Johnson, and afterwards by 1st Lieut. Frank Deason, later made captain. 
On March 25th, 1st Lieut. Godfrey E. Strauss was assigned to Company "D" per 
par. 2, R. S. 0. 23, March 21, 1919, replacing Lieutenant Savage, who returned to 
Gievres. On April 15th Lieutenant Strauss was promoted to captain, per par. 38, 
S. 0. 98, G. H. Q. A. E. F., April 8, 1919. On April 24th he was relieved of duty 
with Company "D," having been listed as on detached service with the organization 
since his promotion, and appointed adjutant of the 2nd Battalion per par. 3. R. S. 
0. 32, April 21, 1919. 2nd Lieut. A. P. Koell was stationed with the company during 
April and May, but was not definitely attached to the organization. He was well 
liked in the company, and the men were sorry to see him left behind. 2nd Lieut. 
W. M. Peters was likewise stationed at the camp about the same period, altho he 
belonged to Company "F." Finally, 2nd Lieut. Ralph E. Phillips came to Vatan 
camp in May, and was officially accredited to Company "D." He remained with 
the company to the last. Lieutenant Phillips lived up to the record of the Comi)any 
"D'' lieutenants, who to a man were personally agreeable and easy to approach, and 
these qualities, be it understood, were by no means universal among officers. 

As far as its allotted task was concerned, a somewhat discouraging prospect was 
faced by the company. One of the longest stretches of road to be repaired was con- 
stantly traversed not only by the heavy trucks hauling the rock needed to repair it, 
but also by a seemingly endless stream of trucks passing between Gievres and the 
large aviation camp at Issoudun. When the road was softened by rain, as was 
usually the case, these trucks tore it up again almost as fast as it was repaired, so 
that many stretches had to be entirely re-surfaced with rock. By about the middle 
of April, however, the aviation camp had been practically evacuated, and the con- 
sequent reduction of heavy traffic on the road, together with the drier spring weather, 
made progress much more rapid. Besides restoring about twenty miles of road 
to a good condition, the company left piles of rock at fifty-yard intervals along the 
side over an even longer stretch. When eventually they ceased working on French 




iEMlNULRs 01 \ VI V\ 



highways they had the satisfaction at least of being able to see some definite results 
of their labors. 

One of the factors which had materially increased this total of work accomplished 
was the abundance of transportation facilities at the company's command. The 
conditions incidental to the period created a wide variation in the number of auto- 
mobiles available at any given time; but there were seldom less than five heavy trucks 
for hauling rock and three lighter cars for traveling purposes on hand, and at 
times as many as twenty cars of all kinds were employed. In addition to the auto 
transportation, the company had the use of seven splendid teams of French draft 
horses, two of which were kept at the quarry, as well as two saddle horses. The 
trucks and touring cars were in charge of Sergeant W. B. Johnson, and the care 
and work of the horses was overseen bv Sergeant Wm. E. Dames. 

In the matter of recreation. Company "D" fared far better than would have been 
the case had it remained at Gievres. A double-walled, sixty-by-twenty '"\" tent, 
erected on February 6th, immediately became the social center of the camp. Since 
it served a comparatively small number of men it was able to give more satisfactory 
service than the "Y's" in crowded centers. Sergeant W. L. Peterson, who was placed 
in charge of the tent, found that an exceedingly accommodating group of Y. M. C. A. 
workers was stationed at the Issoudun aviation camp, only seven miles away; and 
with their help he was able to equip the "Y" to the satisfaction of the most critical, 
as well as furnish entertainment of good quality. The dry canteen, which had been 
maintained in the orderly office since January 28th, was immediately moved to the 
tent, where it was later supplemented by a "wt" canteen serving cocoa or coffee 
and ham, cheese, or jam sandwiches. A plentiful supply of reasonably late magazines 
was kept on hand, and the usual writing facilities were always present. At first 
the weekly entertainment program included "'movies" on Tuesday and Thursday 
evenings, a religious meeting or serious talk Wednesday evening, and a social night 
on Monday. These social evenings were usually given over chiefly to dancing, in 
which Y. M. C. A. misses from the Issoudun camp and French "mademoiselles" 
from the neighborhood participated. Cocoa and doughnuts or cookies were served 
after the dancing. The first dance was held on February 17lh, and thereafter they 
were continued for about two months, at intervals usually of two weeks. These 
more or less periodical features of entertainment were supplemented irregularly 
by the offerings of traveling entertainers of various sorts. On February 23rd the 
5.5th Band came down from Gievres and played in the "Y," later playing in Vatan 
for the French civilians. On Sunday afternoons the "Y" was usually so crowded 
with French visitors that there was hardly room for the soldiers who had thought 
that ihey owned it, but for some strange reason the men registered no kick against 
the invasion — in which, incidentally, most of the young ladies of Vatan took part. 
To complete the description of the "Y," it should be added that a victrola and a 
piano gave a touch of the sometimes too ever-present refinements of civilization. 
For all-around service to the soldiers reached, probably few "Y" tents in the A. E. F. 
excelled the one at Vatan camp. 

Not all of the recreation activities of the camp, however, were centered at the 
"Y." As soon as the ground dried up sufficiently in the spring a base-ball diamond 
and a tennis court were made, both of which were almost continuously in use in good 
weather, except in working hours. The football and boxing gloves were called into 
use, and, when nothing else would serve, there were always blankets to be had for 
use in tossing those soldiers who had in some way marked themselves out for the 
rite. And always it should be remembered that when time otherwise dragged, 
"promenading" tours in parties of two or four could often be arranged with sundry 
comely mademoiselles of the vicinity. 

From the above it should be apparent that there were many compensating fea- 
tures for the company's road work and enforced stay in France. It is needless to 



say, however, that these could not bring contentment in the face of the unanimous 
desire to get back to "God's country." When, therefore, at retreat formation on 
April 29th, Captain Hawkins told the men to write to their folks asking that no 
more mail be sent, nobody seemed to be disheartened. 

It was nearly a month, however, before the company finally left Vatan, and 
the usual "army doubts" about any announcement of future moves began to ap- 
pear freely in conversations. These doubts were temporarily stilled on May 2o, 
when the company returned to the scene of its pre-armistice labors in Gievres; but 
they soon re-appeared in more acute form when it was found that sundry trucks 
and tractors and mules which had once worried a branch of the Motor Transport 
Corps now departed (and lamented) were henceforth to be operated, fed, or ruined, 
as the case might be, by a company of engineers, said company being the well-known 
"D" of 55th Engineers fame. While it was rather flattering to be called in from 
the tent camp for this special purpose, as proved to be the case, when there were 
already plenty of companies at Gievres to whom the task might have been assigned, 
the men of the company were more anxious to get home than to be flattered, at 
least in this way. Nevertheless, they pitched in with their usual whole-hearted spirit, 
and the tractors, trucks, horses, and mules did not lack for expert attention. True, 
the forty-odd "mule-skinners" were not all experienced; but the new ones managed 
to bluff the mules just as much as the mules bluffed them, so that the mules got no 
real satisfaction out of it. The amateur skinners say that this ought to be test 
enough for any mule-man. They did not, however, fall so deeply in love with their 
work that they mourned overmuch when the company was finally relieved of all duty 
on June 8th, in preparation for the first stage of its long journey toward the setting 
sun. And no one seemed to mind the parting from Gievres when "D," "E," and 
Headquarters Company of the 55th climbed on to a train on the morning of June 
12th and started for Hoboken, New Jersey — over the very stretch of railroad, by 
the way, which they had built as their first bit of construction work in France. 

For all the wishes of the men stowed away in its box-cars, the train did not pro- 
ceed at once to Hoboken, but on the contrary brought its occupants only to the 
great forwarding camp at Le Mans, France, and there abandoned them. Here, in 
a foot of dry and blowing sand they were inspected in various ways for a week, while 
their officers filled out great volumes of records in the necessary attempt to prove 
that the men ought not to be refused permission to go home. At length, when the 
supply of paper was exhausted, and the men's newly issued equipment had been 
spread out in the dirt for inspection often enough to be well dirtied, no further 
excuse for keeping them could be thought up right away, so that they were sent on 
to the sea-port of St. Nazaire in order to shift the responsibility. There by some 
stupendous and unaccountable mistake they got mixed up, inside of two days, with 
a bunch of soldiers who were getting on a ship. As this happened to be the Santa 
Cecilia, bound for Hoboken, the very place where they wanted to go, they stayed 
on; and in spite of sea-sickness they remained on all the way across. They greeted 
the Statue of Liberty July 4th, and received a royal welcome at Brooklyn. At Camp 
Mills, Long Island, the company was divided according to the states represented and 
the various units soon were on their way to home and freedom. 




SCENES IN NAZAIRE AND ON SANTA CECELIA 



PART III 

(Individual Mention) 

IT has been deemed wise to include within this company history a chapter of 
more or less extended personal mention. When this arrangement was decided 
upon there arose the question of just how far and in what order such mention should 
be made. It was obviously impossible to include every man on the roster, even tho 
it might have been desirable. The method chosen, therefore, was to take the 
officers, according to rank, in the order in which they were attached to the company, 
and then the men sent to officers' training schools or transferred to headquarters, and to 
continue with the non-cominissioned officers according to the appearance of their names 
on the roster. The matter was carried forward therefore in that manner by the use of 
all the data that came to hand, tho it was fully realized that the accounts might 
have been far more worth while had all the facts been available. 

Captain Wm. W. Holden was born in San Antonio, Texas, and educated in the 
Texas State University, where he was the honor student of his class in electrical 
engineering. In civil life the Captain's last work before entering the service was 
as manager of the street railway company of San Antonio. 

Captain Holden attended the Second Engineer Officers' Training School at Fort 
Leavenworth, Kansas. On receiving his commission he was attached to Company "D," 
56th Engineers. When this company was practically ready to go overseas he was 
detached and after spending some time in Washington, D. C, was assigned to Com- 
pany "D," 55th Engineers, at Camp Custer. 

Captain Holden especially enjoyed the drill feature of the army game, and stressed 
that side in his command. His bearing and voice were such as to inspire confidence 
and gain good results. He impressed the men under him as being firm tho con- 
siderate. He was quick to master problems and offer good solutions. His ready wit 
appealed to those under him, as it was always of the clean-cut, spontaneous type 
that all men enjoy. The Captain was always desirous of making Company "D" 
men practically indispensable on any project, and was never better pleased than 
when his men were found necessary in order to "carry on." He was a splendid, 
systematic organizer, and Company "D" was extremely fortunate to have had him 
as its first captain. 

Captain Wyatt S. Hawkins was born at Hannibal, Missouri, and educated at 
Centenary College, Palmyra, that state. Before engaging in the contest with the 
Boche the Captain had been for thirteen years in government service in con- 
nection with the engineering on state highway construction in Oklahoma and Missouri. 
His last civil occupation, however, was as consulting engineer in Oklahoma City. 

The Captain also attended the Second Officers' Training School at Fort Leaven- 
worth. He was assigned to the 310th Engineers at Camp Custer, and thence came 
to the staff of the 55th Engineers. Company "D" first came to know him as adjutant 
for the 2nd Battalion. In this capacity he came overseas. In addition to his other 
duties he became the company's acting commander when its former captain was 
transferred to the 6th Engineers, and some weeks later was made its captain. He 
was thoroly familiar with just the kind of task that fell to Company "D" in road 
repair. As all soon learned, he was also master of the art of camp building and 
maintenance. 

Captain Hawkins was the most ardent company champion that any company 
ever had. Nothing was too good for the men of Company "D," if the Captain could 
secure it for them. The Captain's interest and care for his company was reflected 



in the response of every man to his Captain's wishes. There was always that signifi- 
cant willingness to do more than just what was required of them. This friendship 
for the Captain was not confined alone to the men of his command, but was voiced by 
all those who came in contact with him. He was the type of officer most thoroly 
appreciated, but unfortunately not most generally met with in military life. 

1st. Lieut. Walter B. Bredbeck was born in Ohio and educated in the universi- 
ty of that state. His work previous to his entrance in the army was for the Union 
Pacific Railway Company. He had been stationed at Omaha, Nebraska. The 
Lieutenant attended the Engineer Officers' Training School at Camp Lee, Virginia, 
where he received his commission. He was sent to Camp Custer and assigned to 
Company "D" there. He was of a quiet, unassuming temperament, not given to 
show, but soon becoming a very real force in the company. He was thoroly 
familiar with engineer work, and was largely in charge of that drill in the States. 
When the company came to Vatan the Lieutenant was on detached service at the 
Engineer Sub Post. He was later given charge of the office as office engineer to 
the section engineer. In this position he was made a captain and transferred out 
of the company. 

1st Lieut. Edgar E. Parsons was another Company "D" officer commissioned 
directly from civil life. He had been employed before he was commissioned by 
the Pennsylvania Railway Company. He was the only Company "D" lieutenant 
who saw service in the Spanish American War. He had charge of engineer drill 
and practice while the company was in the States. 

Immediately after his arrival in Gievres, Lt. Parsons was placed on special duty 
at the Engineers Sub Post, and with Captain Elwell had charge of the construction 
problems for his regiment on the Gievres project. His work there was so satisfactory 
that he was given entire charge of the engineer work on a large hospital camp near 
Paris. 

Lt. Parsons was on special duty so much of the time while in France that the 
majority of the men really saw very little of him. However, it is noteworthy that 
altho he was actually in contact with the company but a little of the time since 
he was first assigned to it, the men somehow felt that they knew him quite well. 
They admired his genial, frank, open manner, and at the same time fully appre- 
ciated his ability and fitness for the assigned task. The Lieutenant was transferred 
to Company "F" December 31, 1918, and later was promoted to the rank of captain. 

1st Lieut. Howard P. Savage was born at Boone, Iowa, and received his pre- 
liminary education in the schools of that place. He completed his schooling at the 
Lewis Institute, Chicago, and the School of Engineering, University of Wisconsin. 
He was engaged by the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company as instrument 
man and bridge inspector for five years, and by the Chicago Elevated Railway 
Company as assistant track engineer and general road supervisor for eight years. 
From this latter position he was commissioned directly as First Lieutenant on .lune 
10, 1918. He was assigned to Company "D", 55th Engineers, on June 13th fol- 
lowing. 

Lt. Savage had supervision of nearly all the track laid by Company "D" at 
Gievres. The fact that of all the track put down in the camp, that laid by Com- 
pany "D" was adjudged best, reflected credit on the officer directly in charge of 
the operation. During the time that Captain Holden was absent from the company, 
Lt. Savage very ably administered its affairs. He gained the merited good will and 
respect of the entire personnel of the company. He was transferred out of Com- 
pany "D" in February, 1919, and assigned to Company "E." 

1st Lieut. Charles E. Poole was born at Gloucester City, New Jersey. He re- 
ceived his technical education at Lehigh LTniversity, completing the civil engineer- 
ing course. From 1903 to 1917 he was engaged as a designer and engineer in charge 



of construction of both railroads and buildings. He entered the 2nd Engineer 
Ofiicers' Training School at Fort Leavenworth, and was commissioned a First 
Lieutenant on June 19, 1917. 

Lt. Poole was attached to the regiment after it came to France, and was first as- 
signed to Company "F." His most important work in France was done as office 
engineer to the section engineer. He was later on detached service at Le Mans. He 
was assigned to Company "D" December 31, 1918, but as he had had no definite 
contact with company work, very few of the men came to know him. 

1st Lieut. Godfrey E. Strauss was bom and received his preliminary educa- 
tion at Franklin, Ohio. He later attended the University of Cincinnati for one year 
and the University of Wisconsin for a year and a half, at both of which places he 
was engaged in the study of technical engineering branches. Subsequently he was 
employed for one year in drafting, designing and working up contract drawings, 
and for three and one-half years as civil engineer with the Engineer Department of 
Cincinnati. He entered the Engineer Officers' Training Camp at Fort Leavenworth, 
Kansas, and was commissioned a First Lieutenant June 30, 1917. 

Lt. Strauss joined the 55th at Custer. Compay "D" men came to know him 
best while there as physical drill leader and acting adjutant at battalion parades 
and reviews. He was for a time acting commander of Company ''A." In France 
Lt. Strauss served as office engineer on the Gievres project and as personal adjutant 
to the colonel before he was assigned to active duty with Company "D." He 
came to the organization while it was stationed at Vatan, and won the merited re- 
spect of the whole company during his short sojourn. His promotion to Captain 
on April 15, 1919, made his transfer unpreventable. While glad for his promotion, 
the men were sorry to see him leave. 

2nd Lieut. John S. Coles was an example of a man who came up from the 
ranks. He was Chillicothe's first soldier. He was sent to the Engineer Officers' 
Training School at Camp Lee, Virginia, where he received his commission. He re- 
ported at Camp Custer and was there assigned to Company "D." 

Lt. Coles was a rod and instrument man when he first began service for the 
Baltimore and Ohio Railway Company. He had worked his way up in the engineer- 
ing work for the company, however, and was especially adept in the line of bridge 
construction. Previous to his railway work for the B. and 0. he had been a mining 
superintendent in the Kentucky coal mining region. 

Lt. Coles possessed a particularly characteristic droll wit that only those who 
knew him best came to appreciate. He was a splendid drill master, and this, to- 
gether with his knowledge of engineering, made him a most efficient engineer officer. 
In France Lt. Coles had charge of details in railroad building and the getting out 
of material for general camp construction. On April 15, 1919, he was promoted 
to First Lieutenant. While the company was at Vatan, Lt. Coles was on detached 
service at Le Mans. 

2nd Lieut. Thomas D. Best was born and reared in Kentucky. He completed 
his education at the School of Architecture, University of Michigan. At the time 
he went to the officers' training school at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, he was architect 
for a large firm in Toledo, Ohio. 

Lt. Best was first commissioned Second Lieutenant in the infantry. Altho 
he had preferred a commission in the engineer branch of the service at the outset, 
nevertheless he had become very much interested in infantry tactics as he pursued 
the course at Fort Sheridan. He was assigned to an infantry organization at Camp 
Custer, but when the 55th was first sent there he was attached to that regiment. He 
first commanded Company "D" while it was still a part of the old Company "C" at 
Custer. The Lieutenant was a very thoro drillmaster and did splendid work 
while acting in that capacity. He never returned to the infantry, but was comniis- 



sioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Engineers, allowed to remain in the 55th, and assigned 
to Company "D" shortly before the regiment left Camp Custer. 

Lt. Best, very naturally, had charge of details, doing building construction at 
Gievres. Numerous details on all types of buildings came under his supervision. 
That he executed his duties well is best attested by his promotion from Second to 
First Lieutenant. Unfortunately for Company "D," this promotion brought about 
his transfer to Headquarters Company, 55th Engineers. 

2nd Lieut. Ralph E. Phillips was born and received his early schooling in 
New York City. He later attended Cooper Institute, graduating in architecture, and 
thereafter attended Columbia University for three years. He was engaged for four 
years with consulting engineers in New York City, working during the day and 
pursuing his studies in Columbia at night. 

Lt. Phillips joined the New York National Guard in 1916, and saw Mexican 
Border service with the unit. When the United States entered the world war the 
N. Y. National Guard became the 27th Division, and went overseas in May, 1918. 
The division was first brigaded with the 2nd British Army in the Mont Kemme! 
sector in Belgium, and later with the 4th British Army on the Cambrai-St. Quentin 
front in France. After these experiences the Lieutenant entered the Engineer 
Officers' Training School at Langeais, from which he received his commission three 
months after completing the course, the delay being due to a general order fol- 
lowing the armistice which held up all commissions. He was sent to St. Aignan, 
assigned to the 55th Engineers, and later assigned to Company "D" — just in time 
for the exodus homeward. 

Axel B. Johnson, a product of Minnesota and, previous to his army service, a 
teacher in the public schools of that state, came to Camp Dodge, and thence to 
Camp Custer, where he was first assigned to Headquarters Company. Johnson was a 
graduate of the Lfniversity of Minnesota and had had military training with the 
cadets while in residence there. Being transferred to Company "D" in May, he was 
soon promoted to Sergeant, First Class. He possessed a happy faculty of being 
able to carry out his military assignments in a way very satifactory to his superiors, 
while he still retained the utmost good will of the men under him. 

Johnson was the first Company "D" man to be selected for an officers' training 
school after the company reached France. He attended the Sapper Engineer School 
at Langeais, France, from which he received his commission as Second Lieutenant. 
He was thereafter assigned to the 116th Engineers at Angers, France. 

Fred R. Lyon reached Camp Custer thru Camp Dodge. Lyon was also attached 
to Headquarters Company for some weeks after being sent to Custer, being trans- 
ferred to Company "D" along with Johnson and others in May. He had a very 
thoro education, being a graduate of Iowa State Teachers' College, and, immediately 
preceding his army service, an instructor in the Fairfield, Iowa, public schools. In 
the States, Lyon was assigned to instrument work on the surveying crew. In France 
he had charge of Chinese labor. He left Company "D" for the Artillery Officers' 
Training School at Samur, France, in September, 1918. Having passed the course, 
he failed of his commission only on account of the early coming of the armistice. 
He elected to return to his old company rather than be placed in a strange organ- 
ization, and remained with the outfit until its return. He was made a Corporal June 
1, 1919. 

Francis W. Holloran, "Happy." hailed from Minneapolis. He was a drafts- 
man by pre-army vocation. He was last employed by the Minneapolis Transfer and 
Storage Company. Holloran was associated with the office work during practically 
all the time the regiment spent in the States. When the 2nd Battalion arrived in 
Gievres there was soon a vacancy in the sergeant majorship, and on account of his 
splendid qualifications Holloran was selected for the place. Thus he left Com- 




SCENES IN NAZAIRE AND ON SANTA CECELIA 



pany "D," and was attached to Headquarters. In this new position Holloran proved 
very proficient, having a most thoro grasp of the affairs under his jurisdiction. 

Benjamin F. Rothtrock. "DukeJ" came to the comaepany with the Camp Dodge 
increment. He had one grudge against Camp Custer doctors in that, having developed 
a slight cold en route from Camp Dodge, and having the red throat that often goes 
with it. he had heen bv their order chucked into the hospital as a scarlet fever sus- 
pect. But that was not to hold him long. He v.as soon putting the "pep" for which 
he was noted into Company "D." 

Rothtrock finished the four-year agricultural engineering course at Iowa State 
College. He had had experience in surveying, drafting, gas-engine repair, and as 
factory foreman in a munitions plant. He was selling tractors for the Smith Com- 
pany at the time he came into the army. He had received some military training 
in the cadet corps of Iowa State College. He had an unusual amount of push and 
pep. which no degree of trial seemed to overcome. 

Rothtrock was never really separated from Company "D," as when it began 
work on the roads he was in charge of the details. When the company moved to 
the Vatan Camp, he moved with it and continued to direct the work of repairing 
roads. Altho as Top-Sergeant and later as Master Engineer he occupied a position 
that at times was very trying, no man in the company enjoyed a wider circle of 
friends. 

Oscar R. Carlson. '■/Vor/tay." was also from Camp Dodge, tho at the time he 
was called into the service he was on general construction work al Hog Island. 
Pennsylvania. Carlson's experience was chiefly along the line of carpentering and 
railroad construction, altho he had done some work as pipe- fitter and as engineer. 
His specialty while in the army very naturally became the building of railroads, 
and no other sergeant in the company could boast the amount of that kind of work 
that he turned out. Carlson at once commanded a wholesome respect for his knowl- 
edge of his work, and the good will of all the men who worked under him or came 
to know him. His keen sense of humor aroused many a laugh at opportune moments. 

When he became a Master Engineer, Carlson, like Rothtrock, counted himself 
very fortunate in being allowed to remain with the company. He was given charge 
of the detail at the Anjouin stone quarry, and organized the work in such a manner 
that it brought the most favorable mention from the lieutenant-colonel who was in- 
spector of quarries. He had the misfortune to break his leg in a motor-cycle acci- 
dent, and so preceded the company on its homeward journey, taking the hospital 
route. 

Eugene C. Kraft. "Benny," was the only man who hailed from Illinois to find 
a place in this part of the record. Kraft was a machinist by trade and was employed 
by the Illinois Steel Company at Joliet before his enlistment in the army. At 
Gievres Kraft was appointed Master Engineer and given general oversight of the 
pumping plants thruout the camp. He carried this duty forward in a manner which 
reflected much credit both upon himself and upon the company from which he came. 

Henry B. Nicolaisen, '"Nick," was an Ohioan from Cleveland, where he re- 
ceived his education. He engaged in truck gardening for a while and later did car- 
penter work, at which he was occupied when the war began. In A])ril. 1918, he 
was sent to Camp Sherman. He crossed the ocean with the 329th Infantry, which 
landed in Le Havre after passing thru England. He was stationed near Le Mans on 
detached service, where he took part in the construction of the large forwarding 
camp. Later he was transferred to the 55th Engineers and promoted first to Corporal, 
and later to Master Engineer, junior grade. Immediately after this appointment he 
was transferred from Company "D" to Headquarters Detachment. Both his breezy, 
winning personality and his practical knowledge made his promotion a thing to be 
expected. 



Harry E. Clarke received his college training at the University of Minnesota, 
where he specialized in agriculture. He spent three years in the cadet corps while in 
that institution. The time following that training was devoted to farming operations, 
and as foreman in a large warehouse. 

Clarke was platoon leader and especially useful in drilling before the company 
left the States. His work in France was as recorder for the whole company when 
it first began work on the Gievres project, and later he was in charge of a detail at 
Mur De Sologne. Having been appointed First Sergeant, November 14, 1918, he 
executed the duties of the "top soak" in a conscientious and thoro-going manner 
as long as the company was in France. On the Santa Cecilia, bound for home, 
Clarke became suddenly ill and was taken to the ship's hospital. No one in the 
company realized how serious his condition was, and the sad news that his illness 
had developed into pneumonia with complications, and had terminated fatally 
while he was still in a hospital at Hoboken, came as a distinct shock to all who 
heard it. Sergeant Clarke had been absolutely "square " in his administration of 
the difficult duties of first sergeant. His life was truly given in devoted service to 
his country, and his family is assured of the sincerest sympathy of his host of friends. 

John C. Hansen, "Hans," was the only Company "D" Sergeant that had ever 
been in Uncle Sam's army before, having served three years with the 7th Cavalry 
in the Philippine Islands. Just previous to his second advent in the army he had 
been engaged in the draying business in PauUina, Iowa. During the drill period 
at Custer, Hansen was the dependable right guide of the company. After coming 
to Gievres he found a new field of endeavor — that of road building and repairing. 
He took a keen interest in this line of work, and the best testimonial to his work is 
the fact that he was given oversight of the various details on the roads about the 
camp, under the direction of the captain in charge of general road work. In the 
first months of 1919 he was usually in charge of truck convoy details. Late in April 
he took the place of Master Engineer Carlson at the Anjouin quarry, when Carlson 
broke his leg. 

Charles E. Jackson, "Jack Number 1," was another Camp Dodge man. He 
was in Iowa State College for two years, taking the course in animal husbandry. In 
this period he also had the cadet work offered there. His practical experience was 
along the line of farming, and as a clerk. At the time he came into the army, how- 
ever, he was salesman for the Allyn and Bacon Publishing Company. 

Jackson's most important work before the left the States was in acting as "Top 
Kick" for the Company "D" men quartered in Building No. 83, at Camp Custer. 
After the company arrived at Gievres he had charge of details engaged in building 
railroads, and in getting out lumber for warehouse construction. 

"Swede," alias Walter A. Johnson, came to Camp Custer with an increment of 
Michigan men. Just previous to his army service he had been engaged in army 
Y. M. C. A. work at Camp Custer, where he had had charge of the athletic activities. 
Before that time he had been coach of the Presbyterian College, Clinton, South 
Carolina, and of the athletic teams of the Normal College, Battle Creek, Michigan. 

Johnson's best work in the States was done along the physical side, giving setting 
up exercises, etc. He was also the mainstay in the football team organized at Gievres, 
both as player and as coach. His chief line of work on the project in France con- 
sisted of supervising the construction of wood frame warehouses and barracks. In 
Vatan he had charge of the many trucks and light cars which were used in the road 
work. 

Robert W. Spence came to Camp Meade from the state of Pennsylvania, and 
thence to Camp Custer. He had been employed as a railroad fireman and machinist 
previous to his military service. Spence's line of activity in France was the over- 
sight of steel warehouse construction on the Gievres project, and the building of 



water tanks while on detached service near Tours. He discharged these duties with 
credit to himself and to Company "D." Later he was connected with the stone 
quarry work in Anjouin. 

Harry Hinz, "Heinie," hailed from Manning, Iowa. His occupation before com- 
ing into the service was the banking business in that place. 

The supply sergeant's position with the companv, especially in the engineer 
corps, where a large number of tools are constantlv in use in addition to all other 
equipment of the companv, is an especially arduous and trying one. Sergeant Hinz 
organized this department in a very thoro manner, and always kept things in an 
exceptionally neat and orderly way. He was able to tell one immediately just 
what could be done for him, and his even tempered, practical, businesslike way 
marked him as the proper man for the place. We are sure that no company had 
it over Company "D' in the way of a supply sergeant. He was transferred to Regi- 
mental Headquarters Department and made Battalion Supply Sergeant June 1, 1919. 

The way to a man's heart is more trulv thru his stomach while he is in the army 
than when in civil life. Next to the top sergeant, or perhaps not even excepting 
that personage, the mess sergeant has the most difficult place in the company. It 
is always easy to find fault in the army, and of course the mess is a peculiarly easy 
subject to crab about, and so the trials of the mess sergeant are evident. 

Company "D's" Mess Sergeant, Nicklous Degan, ''Nick." spent most of his 
time before entering the armv in the carpenter business, yet no one ever complained 
of ever finding shingle nails in his soup. He expressed a preference for cooking 
when he first came to Camp Dodge and was put on the list of cooks there. He 
was made mess sergeant after the company reached Gievres, and having been well 
trained and always wide awake and on the job to see that his bunch got all that 
was coming to it, Nick made a most efficient "Master of the Mess." 

William E. Dames hailed from the state of Pennsylvania. Dames was an ex- 
pert carpenter, and given a set of carpenter tools and plenty of material he would 
have been thoroly at home. This man was perhaps more unassuming and un- 
pretentious than any of the others who are mentioned in this section, yet he held 
the merited respect of everv man who came to know him, besides being well liked 
personally. His chief work in France became the supervision of water tank con- 
struction while on detached service near Tours. He was made Stable Sergeant 
when the company acquired its horses at Vatan. 

William T. Barry, ''Colonel." was a painter and decorator previous to his last 
army service. Berry was another one of the Camp Dodse men with Iowa as his 
native state. He served in the 53rd Regiment, National Guard, for three years at 
an earlier enlistment and was on the Mexican border with that command. Barry was 
of the genial, jovial, good natured sort, whom all the fellows liked. His chief work in 
France became building and miscellaneous construction, and later the superintend- 
ing of road repair work. 

Harry L. Black formerly was engaged in the jewelrv business, altho we find 
that he had also been interested in the grocery trade previous to that employment. 
Black's chief work in Company "D" while in the States was in giving "short and 
long point" commands in bayonet drill and later as "chief of the mess." 

In France Black was finally relieved of the mess sergeant duties, which had 
never really appealed to him. His best work was done along the line of inspecting 
gas and oil tanks made for the Government by the James Stewart Co. Civilian labor 
was employed in the making of these tanks, and it devolved upon Sergeant Black 
to see that the work was satisfactory. In Vatan Black had charge of details of 
individual road patrol, or "Cantonniers," as the French call them. 

Eric V. Gustafson, "Gus," was born in Oskar, Sweden. He spent his early 
life and received his education there. He came to America in 1909 and engaged 
for four years in general construction work, traveling thru the west. His specialty 




OUR OWN "Y" 




IODINE AND PILLS 



was steel and concrete. For two and one-half years immediately preceding his 
army service he had been connected with a Minneapolis contracting firm, serving 
as secretary to the firm in addition to his supervisory duties. He came to Dodge 
February 26th, 1918. 

In France Gus' time was largely devoted to carpenter work. He had a verv 
large part in building up the army quarters where Company "D'' was housed. His 
ability, coupled with his genial nature, made him well liked by the whole company. 

Frank J. Jackson, ''Jack No. 2," was a lithographer from Minneapolis previous 
to his enlistment. One of the best testimonials to this man's worth and application 
to business is found in the fact that he had worked for one firm for nearly eleven 
years. Jackson was engaged in various phases of the Gievres project. He always 
went about things in a quiet, confident manner that impressed all who knew him, 
and he could be trusted to stay strictly on the job. He possessed a droll humor all 
his own that was a help when either off or on duty. 

William D. Mayo, "0/e," draftsman and mechanical drawing teacher from 
Davenport, Iowa, came to Custer from Company "C," 313th Engineers, at Dodge. 
Mayo also possessed a talent for piano playing and used to instil "pep" into the 
bunch, especially during the long periods of quarantine. The orchestra that the 
company had at Custer was largely brought about by Mayo's efforts. 

Mayo was Sergeant in charge of surveying for the Second Battalion on the Gievres 
project. He thought he knew definitely just how far it was to every corner of the 
Gievres camp. He did the surveying for most of the railway construction about 
camp, staked out practically all the warehouses, and carried forward all the tasks 
that fell to the lot of the surveying crew on all the work done by the 55th, or under 
55th supervision, except that unrecognized and unrewarded part of it known as "de- 
tached service." 

Glaus A. Nyquist was "born and bred, buttered and bruised," in Sweden. He 
came over when he was 11 years old and settled in Cadillac, Michigan. Previous to 
his coming to Custer he was employed by the Grand Rapids and Indiana railroad 
company. His work in France was almost entirely in the line of railway building, 
for which his past experience had well fitted him. On February, 1919, having been 
taken seriously ill, he was transferred out of the company and went home by the 
hospital route. 

Louis Pearlstein was formerly a building contractor in Pennsylvania. Pearl- 
stein was one of the best prepared men in Company "D" from the standpoint of 
education, having taken his work largely in the University of Pennsylvania. Soon after 
coming to Gievres, Pearlstein was put on detached service near Le Mans. His particu- 
lar class of work was building construction. In Vatan he became a sort of general 
utility man, most of the lime acting in the place of any one of the sergeants who hap- 
pened to be absent. A characteristic which became increasingly evident during this 
period, and which made him a valuable asset to the company, was his ability always to 
get all that he was sent after and sometimes more. Indeed because of this marked 
ability for annexing anything that Company "D" needed, be became known as Com- 
pany "D"s" porch-climber. He was made Company Supply Sergeant June 1, 1919. 

William L. Peterson, "Pete." was teaching school when he was caught in the 
draft, put on flannels and covered them with Uncle Sam's uniform. He was a grad- 
uate of Coe College and had taken one-half year of work on an M. A. degree at 
Iowa State University. After two years as athletic director and teacher at Perry, 
Iowa, he became superintendent of schools first at Hopkinton and then at Greeley, 
Iowa. 

"Pete" was a guiding and uplifting influence in the company at all times. Start- 
ing with the organization of a Bible class at Custer, he became the company "Y" 




THE OFFICERS ARE "SNAPPED" 




THE NOISIEST BUNCH OF ALL 



leader, a title well earned by his activity in keeping that class going and in branch- 
ing out later into social and athletic work. Due to his efforts in connection with 
the "Comrades in Service" program. Company "D" stood foremost in this work in 
the camp, being among the first to have classes in European geography, English, 
elementary arithmetic and French. 

While these results were probably his most valuable contribution to the com- 
pany, he was also very helpful as a drill sergeant during the period of organiza- 
tion, and later on in France was in charge of various construction details. To him 
fell the task of making the "Y" tent at Vatan Camp the success which it proved to 
be. Finally it is only fitting to say here that a very large part of the credit for this 
history is due to him. 

William G. Sando was formerly engaged in the carpenter trade, his last work 
in civil life being done for the Bethlehem Steel Company at Lebanon, Pa. There- 
fore Sando particularly enjoyed the wood construction end of the work at Gievres, 
and was employed chiefly in building warehouses and barracks. He was later in 
charge of a casual enlisted men's mess at Gievres. He developed into an excellent 
ball player, playing with the Construction Engineers' Team. 

George W. Smith, "SmUty." claimed Winfield, Iowa, as the town of his nativity. 
His education, which was interrupted by the army call, was secured largely at the 
State University of Iowa. During the period he spent at that institution, he was a 
"cadet." The drill features of army life appealed to Sergeant Smith far more than 
any other phase of army activity. His principal line of endeavor at Gievres was 
the oversight of a large camp gravel pit, where all the material of that nature for 
the camp roads was secured. American prison labor was used on that part of the 
project, and Sergeant Smith became particularly interested in the work on that ac- 
count. At Vatan he had charge of road details. 

W. H. H. Thayer, an lowan by birth, came near becoming a subject of King 
George during his residence in Canada. He returned to Iowa, however, and came 
into the army from Centerville, Iowa. His work has been mining and farming. 
Thayer declares that he has "run the rounds" in the different kinds of work he did 
while in France. He possessed the traits that gave him a wide acquaintance and 
a very high standing in the company. 

While he had escaped the overlordship of Great Britain by a narrow margin. 
Sergeant Thayer just couldn't resist the lure of the French Republic as presented 
by one of the attractive feminine subjects. By a remarkable stroke of good fortune, 
a truck in a convoy party which he was accompanying met with an accident at 
Roanne, where dwelt an artist lady who fully met the difficult standard of his ideal. 
He was left to guard the truck, which proved to be so satisfactorily damaged that 
he was able to stay a full month at Roanne. By a whirlwind, impetuous campaign, 
he won the lady's heart and hand, and dauntlessly engaged to furnish the library of 
recommendations, birth certificates, genealogies, and sundry other documents of the 
sort which were required for their marriage. By some necromancy he actually did 
it, and on April 22nd, 1919, he became a benedict. Before the company set sail he 
was discharged in France where he engaged in business. 

Casper G. Brydle, ''Cap," was a Michigan product, born, reared and educated 
at Elkhart, that state. Previous to his army service, he was a truck driver and flour 
salesman. He first reported at Custer in September, 1917, but on account of physical 
disability was discharged temporarily, being recalled in March, 1918. He came to 
I he 55th from the 160th Depot Brigade. 

"Cap" was made an acting squad leader when he first came to Custer, and a 
Corporal after the company reached France. He was in charge of details on con- 
struction work at Gievres before the close of the war, and he was the dependable 
driver of a light Dodge truck during the time the company was stationed near 




AFTER THE DAYS WORK 




IN OUR OWN FRONT YARD, 



Vatan. In this capacity he probably traveled more miles than any other man in 
Company "D." He was made Sergeant June 1, 1919. 

William Crane was formerly engaged in plumbing at Red Lake Falls. Minne- 
sota. Crane was on special duty in the vicinity of Tours as a pipe-htter and plumber. 
In this work he felt thoroly at home and acquitted himself with much creilit. He 
later did the same kind of work on the Gievres project. 

Edmund De Coker claimed Belgium as the land of his nativity, having been born 
at Wynghim. He came to America in 1914, reaching Detroit thru Canada, where 
he had been working for six months. He had been engaged in the carpenter trade 
in Belgium and so continued in the States. He came into the service at Custer, 
April 20th, 1918. 

De Coker was a very clever artificer both in wood and metal. Given an idea of 
what was wanted and any adequate material, he could produce a finished article. 
Many a feature designed for camp comfort owed its construction to this man. Many 
a Souvenir de France came into being thru the same handicraft. 

Charles W. Fothercill, a native of Pennsylvania, was educated in Philadelphia. 
He was cargo master for the Austro American Steamship Company until 191 1. when 
this line was the first to suspend business as a result of the war. Thereafter he was 
employed by the Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Company as assistant purchasing 
agent. He entered the service April 25th, going first to Camp Meade. He was 
transferred to the 55th at Custer on May 28th. 

In Gievres, Fothergill spent most of his time "driving chinks," and later, at the 
Anjouin stone quarry, he was Chief Clerk and Canteen Supply Man for the de- 
tachment. 

Webb W. Foulke, "Son" was the affable, obliging clerk all the time the com- 
pany was in France. We know now that the patrons on Route No. 3 out of Carlisle, 
Iowa, lost a splendid mail carrier when he joined the colors; but fortunately their 
loss was our gain. Surely we couldn't have carried on the war successfully without 
his cheerful "Come-in" in answer to our knock on the Company "D" office door. 

Earl D. Hammond, '"Ham," was a plump Iowa product — visible evidence that 
the state really belongs in the corn belt. "Ham" was born, reared and educated at 
Waukee. The early part of his life was spent in farming, while that immediately 
preceding his army service was devoted to auto repair work. 

In France Hammond became "Y" clerk at No. 1 Hut. We imagine that it taxed 
even his good nature to carry on at such a trying post. When the company moved 
to the Vatan camp Earl's proficiency as a mechanic suddenly came to light, and he 
had a steady job thereafter. 

Charles S. Heath, "Newi:^ was another Michigander. He was born in Indiana 
and later moved to Benton Harbor, Michigan. Educated in the Benton Harbor High 
School and Business College, he later became station agent for the Interurban R. R. 
Company at that place. In this capacity the world war found and claimed him 
March 29, 1918. 

Being from Michigan, he was well acquainted with Lizzie Ford, and so, when 
the Company moved to the Vatan Camp he was given conunand of the first Ford 
the company drew. He rambled here and there with "Chow" for men in and out 
of camp, and to hungry details he was a very welcome visitor. 

James King, "King James," was listed as a Minnesota horse trader before his 
appearance in L^ncle Sam's army. We don't know surely whether he was of the 
Harum type or not, but it is safe to guess that he was. King spent about equal 
lengths of time railroad building, on convoys, driving V. S. prisoners, and bossing 
a quarry detail. 



John A. Marsh was a plumber in Rochester, Minnesota, before the war en- 
gaged his attention. We doubt whether any man in the command took a keener 
interest in keeping his equipment ship-shape. He was another man who appreciated 
the drill feature of army life. In France Marsh did his best work as a plumber and 
pipe-fitter. 

Royal R. Marsh, "Railroad Marsh," a painter from Holstein, Iowa, came to 
Custer from Camp Dodge. Being a splendid clarinet player and having had ex- 
perience in band leadership. Marsh was put in charge of the 55th Regimental Band. 
He was chosen by Colonel Daley himself as Corporal Band Leader. This band 
was not a recognized band and therefore Marsh experienced many difficulties in 
getting time for practice, etc., but we hesitate to think what the 55th would have 
done without the band. It was largely due to Colonel Marsh's efforts that the 
organization succeeded. 

Joseph A. Molitor was a retail merchant doing a general merchandise busi- 
ness in St. Paul when his country summoned him. In the 55th Molitor became a 
member of the band, playing the French horn. He also handled the violin in the 
orchestra. He worked in headquarters office as Assistant to the Sergeant Major 
during the greater part of the time in Gievres. 

Who of the 55th knew not Molleston? Probably no man in the regiment had 
a wider acquaintance, since he occupied conspicuous places both as Drum Major 
in the band and as short-stop for the regimental base-ball team. Company "D" will 
remember him as "Uncle Josh" or "Charlie Chaplin," or in some other humorous roll 
which he could carry so well. Carl T. Molleston was the most successful dispeller 
of the gloom that otherwise would have settled over us occasionally, that Company 
"D" ever found within or without its ranks. "Molly" fully justified his pre-army 
vocation claims of "show man." At Gievres he worked at "Y" No. 1, and later at the 
log yard as a checker. 

Pierrie a. Power was born in Escanaba, Michigan, and educated in the Michi- 
gan graded schools. He was engaged in office work for the Great Northern Railway 
Co. for ten years. Following that period he was employed in bridge work for the 
same company up to the time- of his enlistment. He enlisted in the 55th at Port- 
land, Oregon, on May 10th, 1918, and after a few days at Vancouver Barracks, 
joined the company at Custer. 

In France Power's work was valuable in bridge construction, while the com- 
pany was engaged in railroad building. Later at both Gievres and Vatan his office 
work stood him in good stead, and he did a great portion of the stenographic work of 
the company. 

Daniel H. Shepherd came to Custer from Dodge. "Shep" was a painter by 
trade, but also had had experience on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy R. R. He 
originally had aspirations in the line of cooking, but was too well qualified for rail- 
road building to be allowed in the kitchen of a railroad company. Shepherd knew 
the major portion of the track that "D" had laid in France. 

Edwin C. Sheridan, "Sherry," hailed from the "Keystone State." Previous to 
his military service he had been employed by the National Biscuit Co. as a mill- 
wright. He came into the service at Camp Meade, Md., and was transferred with 
the Meade increment to Custer in March, 1918. 

Sheridan was most useful during the period of the war on surveying parties. 
When the company moved to Vatan he did good work as patrol on a road section. 
Tho one of the last made corporals (appointed in April), Sheridan had given a very 
good account of himself at all times. 

Albert A. Stich hailed from the state of Wisconsin and the city of Milwau- 
kee. Previous to his induction into the army he had been employed for one and 




CAUGHT AT RANDOM 



;,4iW?!^#«|l^i^ ,-, : j^iBlfc#V!ffl|JF>!^.f, 




"VUE GENERALE DE CAMP VATAN" 



one half years by the Avery Thresher Co. as millwright and general carpenter. He 
came to Custer April 30, 1918. 

Stich was among the most efficient carpenters which Company "D" possessed. 
Many of the conveniences which made the camp at Vatan such a "livable" place 
were the work of his hands. 

William F. Swanson, "Swannie" was as his name indicated, from Minnesota. He 
was educated in Minnesota College. His specialty was commercial art and design- 
ing. 

In the army Swanson served on the surveying crew. He was always the official 
sign and poster maker as well as stenciler. Since he was a loyal bandsman, his 
time, with these many duties, was very fully occupied. The pictures which appear 
in this book were all drawn by him. 

RoscoE H. Teets hailed from Keota, Iowa, and was a painter by choice. He 
served for six months in the 2nd Illinois National Guard. He was on the Mexi- 
can border at the time of the trouble there. Teets was particularly interested in 
the drill feature of the army game. He was engaged in operating a tractor train 
during the greater part of the company's stay at Gievres. He was also snare drum- 
mer of the Regimental Band. He was made Sergeant June 1, 1919. 

Albert J. Thieman was employed in the lumber business at Deer River, Minne- 
sota, being an edgerman by trade. His work in France then was very naturally along 
the line of wooden building construction. Thieman was a steady, reliable, con- 
scientious worker. 

Charles E. Wahlig represented Davenport, Iowa, in Company "D." He was 
a photographer by profession, having spent four years at that work previous to 
his army service. "W'ally" was a splendid type of fellow, and to know him was 
to like him. He was in excellent health while in the States, and did good work, 
but on coming to France was from the time of landing troubled with rheumatism. 
He surely endured his share of pain. He was finally sent to base hospital at Mon- 
tierchaume, and from there returned to the States. 

Anton Nordwall was a carpenter previous to his army service. His chief work 
in France was as Engineer on a tractor train hauling gravel, while the company 
was stationed at Gievres, and as Engineer at the stone quarry while the company was 
engaged in road construction. 

Harold J. Stuckman, "Stuck," was formerly a Minnesota farmer. "Stuck" did 
his best work in France in the capacity of a Truck Driver. He did a large amount 
of truck convoy work. 

Lieut. W. N. Peters was assigned to Company "D" just before the return to 
Gievres for the homeward journey. Lieut. Peters was an Eastern product, coming 
into the service from the state of Pennsylvania. He had been a thoro going railroad 
construction engineer preceding his army service. 

The Lieutenant enlisted in the 55th just before the regiment left Camp Custer. 
He was first assigned to Company "E" and soon became a sergeant first class. When 
the regiment came to France he had charge of all the surveying done by the 55th 
men at Gievres. He was given a commission as a second lieutenant in September, 
1918, and made a first lieutenant early in the year 1919. 

Great credit is due Lieut. Peters for his rise from the ranks. As an officer he 
held the respect and good will of all the officers and men associated with him. 

Roster of Officers of Co. "D," 55th Engineers: 

Capt. W. S. Hawkins, Engineering Dept. Sinclair Oil Co., Tulsa, Okla. 
Capt. G. E. Strauss, 4422 Sation Ave., Cincinnatti, Ohio. 
Lieut. J. H. Coles, 510 Wright Bldg., St. Louis, Mo. 
Lieut. W. N. Peters. 2216 S. 2nd St. Philipsburg, Penn. 
Lieut. R. E. Phillips, 1536 44th St., Brooklyn, N. Y. 



PART IV 

In order more clearly to do justice to everv man on the Roster, and at the same 
time to present the list of names and addresses of the men who either came to France 
with Company "D" or were attached to it during the major portion of its time in 
France, the following list is appended: 

Allen, Darwin Gobleville, Michigan 

Steady and dependable, 

Allen, Selden P 143 Cherry Street, Battle Creek, Michigan 

A good man jor light-duty birds. 

Anastasl Guisseppe 20 Orciiard St.. Mansfield. Ohio 

A good, conscientious norker. 

Ankiel, John J 21 Anson Ave., Detroit, Michigan 

Right there on R. R. icork. 

Anyon, George 1266 7th Ave. N., Minneapolis, Minn. 

The best Cook o/ the A. E. F. 

Badalamenti, Saverio 461 Congress St., Detroit. Michigan 

The '-New York Kid." 
Baker, Clarence 120 N. Rose St., Kalamazoo, Mich. 

ir ho aluays looks on the bright side. 

Baruer. James T Mitchellville, Iowa 

Happy tho jut and muchly in love. 

Barry, William T 113 East 11th St., Cedar Falls, Iowa 

"Irish Barry-0." The all around man. 

Bartsch, Gustav M 232 East Annapolis St., West St. Paul, Minn. 

A hustler — the man udio liked grapes. 

Bauer, Martin W 1608 Madison Ave., Piqua, Ohio 

He'll make a dapper jloor-ualker. 

Beckman, Lewis G St. James, Missouri 

The sleepless wonder. 

Bell, Herbert H Mitchellville, Iowa 

"Ding-Dong" — '77/ jix it for you right away." 

Bernatchez, Edward J 312 4th St., Manistee, Michigan 

The quiet frog. 
Berwanger, Jake 742 5th St., Dubuque, Iowa 

Big Jake — Looking jor the rake-ojf. 

Bettler. Ray L Wapello, Iowa 

Good, willing worker — "Cheerjul Ray." 

Biskupski. Floryan 813 South Sherman St., Bay City, Mich. 

The "Pick" artist. 

BiACK, Harry L Bloomfield, Iowa 

The natch maker at the Oil Station — "Gas House Harry." 

Blazis, Peter 345 South Alley, Mahanoy City, Penn. 

"Give it to me — a cigarette." 

BoGARD, Lewis J 5036 N. Winchester Ave., Chicago, Illinois 

The human gas engine. 

Boucher, Jonas 309 Walnut St., Dawson Springs, Kentucky 

"Kentucky" oj bone-jame — Chiej water-boy — 7 come 11. 
Boris, Tony 1610 Center St., Racine, Wisconsin 

The Sampson oj Company "D" who kept his strength in reserve. 



BouLis, Peter W 310 West Mt. Vernon St., Shenandoah, Pa. 

The convoy specialist. 

BoussNEUR, John W 971 14th St., Detroit, Mich. 

Introducing Boussneur and his trained "Mack." 
BowLBY, Charles M 3237 39th Ave. South, Minneapolis, Minn. 

The little old man — Married young. 

Brassard, Louis 3516 West 3rd St., Duluth, Minn. 

He could "parler beaucoup" 

Braaten, Edwin R. F. D. No. 2, Henning, Minn. 

The red-haired man from Minnesota. 

Brimelow, Charles W 132 Michigan Ave., Detroit, Mich. 

The "English" Medic — "You Knoio." 
Brinkman, John . . . R. F. D. No. 9, Holland, Mich. 

Fat and Healthy. 

Brockmann, Henry F Ferdinand, Indiana 

Indiana Boy. 

Brooks, Everette F Butler, Ohio 

The "Spike-mall" mechanic. 

Brooks, Lawrence P R. F. D. No. 8, Holland, Mich. 

Home-Sick in France. 

Brown, Harry M R. F. D. No. 1, Waukee, Iowa 

"/ can't get 'em up" Par Bon? 

Brydle, Casper G Kendall, Mich. 

Popular with the French "Mademoiselles" — "/ lika you." 

Burhans, Clyde L Pawpaw, Mich. 

Retired Bugler — Walks in his sleep. 

BuRNQUiST, David St. Hilaire, Mim. 

"That's all we can let you have." 

Carlson, Oscar R Chisholm, Minn. 

"The Lucky Swede" — "Outside for policing" — A. E. F. section foreman. 

Clarke, Harry E 913 Eustis St., St. Paul, Minn. 

"Got any gum?" — The man ivith the whistle — A stickler for discipline. 

Clawson, Peter R. F. D. No. 5, Allegan, Mich. 

The shovel artist. 

CocAT, Michael 3269 Vermont Ave., Detroit, Mich. 

The nail driver and u'ood butcher. 

Copley, George H 230 West Fourth St., Chanute, Kansas 

A clean-cut U. S. Soldier — Football player. 
Courtney, Francis E 234 West Hammond St., Ostego, Mich. 

"/ sent my wife a postal card." 

Coxford, Edgar Douglas, Mich. 

Coxford with a fat smile. 

Crane, William 705 Stewart Ave., Crookston, Minn. 

The heart-breaker — The briar pipe fitter. 

Crippin, Clair Covert, Mich. 

The Michigan "Mik." 
Dames, William E 549 Grant St., Pottston, Pennsylvania 

The little gentleman — Never afraid of work. 

DeCoker, Edmond 1159 Lillibridge Ave., Detroit, Mich. 

The accordion entertainer — Ring making a specialty. 

DeFields, Alex Colona, Mich. 

Tried and true — "Let's go homsky." 

Degen, Nicklous Taopi, Minn. 

"Come and get it" — The "Best" Mess Sergeant in the A. E. F. 



DePuy, Russel L 216 Clinton St., Plainwell, Mich. 

The "Chink" driver — "They killed jour policemen a week in Detroit." 

DeVan, Irwin F 810 Belgium Ave., Govenstown, Maryland 

Engineer Specialist — One of the "Meade Twins." 

Domingo, Franchesco 472 Congress St., Detroit. Mich. 

The other "New York" Kid. 
DoNELY, Thomas 1247 Hall Ave., Zanesville, Ohio 

The smile that won't come off. 

Driver, William G R. F. D. No. 1, Osceola, Iowa 

.4 patriot whose stomach was a conscientious objector. 
DuGUE, Oswald A 124 North Cortes, New Orleans, La. 

The "Spanish" story teller. 

Ellefson, Alfred Roseau, Minn. 

Krajt's private secretary — The convoy e.xpert. 

Ercolano, Basilo Utica, Ohio 

The "Ohio' glass blower. 
Erlandson, Frank G Coleraine, Minn. 

One who chose the "gold" and not the "dross" in the Army. 

EssicK, Warren G Norwalk, Iowa 

"Rheumati:"' — "Rheumataint." 
Felzer, Philip 2437 South Sheridan St., Philadelphia, Penn. 

Ever "Happy" — .4lways on the job — The high diver. 

Fischer, Emil Fulda. Minn. 

.4 man nho needed two hunks, one for his many friends. 

Fischer, Walter R 147 North Millick St., Philadelphia, Penn. 

"Diamonds are small, but — " 

Fleming. James P 2423 Iseminger St., Philadelphia, Penn. 

"The Irish Jew" — Pop Frost's training partner. 
Fogarty, Edward W 325 East Mahanay Ave.. Philadelphia. Penn. 

The "General" of the pump house. 

Fothergill. Charles W 2839 North Judson St., Philadelphia, Penn. 

The 1st Lieut, of the "Chink" drivers — "Philadelphia Encyclopedia." 

Foulke, Webb W Carlisle, Iowa 

The over-worked, tho good-natured Clerk — "I'll do what I can for you' — and he did. 

Franson, Albert Dassel, Minn. 

■"/ am afraid I have lost my rifle." 

Fritzmeier, William M Elmore, Minn. 

ir hose head 'most got lost from his feel. 

Frost, Jesse A Kelliher, Minnesota 

"If hat business is it of yours':' The elephantine cook. 

FuRMAN. Milliard B Owens Ave., Hyattsville, Maryland 

Maryland, give us more like him. 

Gagnon, Archie J 524 Logan Ave., Toronto, Ont., Canada 

The Franco-Americaiv 

Gall, Gustave A 196 Harland Ave., Detroit, Michigan 

All Call. 
Ganske, Benjamin C R. F. D. No. 2, New Ulm, Minn. 

The poker-player's Nemesis — "Get your feet off." etc. 

Gardisani, Olivo 189 West Jefferson Ave., Detroit. Mich. 

The Italian Demosthenes. 

Girone, Guisseppe 1285 18th St., Philadelphia. Penn. 

"If orki dc kilch"—"Alle de time kitch." 

Gnadt, Ernest A Lake Wilson, Minn. 

A worth-uhile mart. 



Gnall, George McKinley, Minn. 

The veteran steam-shovel man. 

GoBEL, Frank I. . . ^ 805 East 88th St., Cleveland, Ohio 

"By golly"— "Honest too" — A clever u-orkman. 

GoLDSTRAND, GuSTAVE Roosevelt. Minn. 

Eric the Red. 

Green, Albert Hartford, Iowa 

Quiet and unassuming — director of Chinese labor. 

Green, Archie R 223 North Park St., Kalamazoo, Mich. 

An honest worker. 

Griffin, Ger.ald M 412 West Washington St., Marquette, Mich. 

The Captain's orderly. 

Grossman, George A Delmar. Iowa 

"Forty-one cents" — The Ford mechanic. 

Grzywinski, Nicholas 910 East Magnolia St., St. Paul, Minn. 

The "breezy" boy from St. Paul — A real foot-ball man. 

GuSTAFSON, Eric V 2933 Chicago Ave., Minneapolis, Minn. 

The Company carpenter — The contractor. 

Hammond, Earl D Waukee, Iowa 

Affectionate Earl — A good scout. 
Hanson, John C Paullina, Iowa 

Horseless John — The road monkey — Cavalry king. 

Heath, Charles F R. F. D. No. 1, Benton Harbor, Mich. 

"What's life without Russet shoes?" 

Hecker, William 152 South Main St., Nazareth, Penn. 

A ivandering Jeiv from the Holy City. 

Helland, Berthold J Forbes, North Dakota 

The square-dance artist — .4 droll ivit. 

Hilgendorf, Arthur F 1019 East Pike St., Seattle, Wash. 

But I talk on forever. 

Himberg, Thorvald International Falls, Minn. 

In France for duty. 

Hinz, Harry Manning, Iowa 

The good-natured supply sergeant — "W hat size?" 

HoBEKE, Corneal 110 Dayton St., Fremont, Mich. 

He motored here, he motored there, until the job was done. 

Hole, Roger M 644 North Oakland Ave., Indianapolis, Indiana 

A big "Hole" in the company's resources. 

Holloran, Francis W 701 16th Ave. North, Minneapolis, Minn. 

"Lucky Baldwin" — One who knows his business. 

Horney, Frederick W R. F. D. No. 3, Bangor, Mich. 

"Frederick the Great." 

Howe, Wesley Michigaume, Mich. 

How? Fine ! 
Hundertmark, William Conrad, Iowa 

The Company "D" Dollar sign — Right there at any job. 

HuTCHiNS, Clayto Redfield, Iowa 

A bundle of contrary impulses. 

IcKES, Jesse R. F. D. No. 3, Decatur, Mich. 

Alkali Ike, the Coivboy. 

Jackson, Charles E 516 7th Ave., Clinton, Iowa 

"IFe want blankets" — "Shut the gate" — "The world is all urong." 

Jackson, Frank J Main P. 0. 101, Minneapolis, Minn. 

He could do anything. 



Januszewski, Robert Perham, Minn. 

Motor-cycle Mike — the speed king. 
Jenson, John Lamberton, Minn. 

"That makes it mean" — A heart with room for all. 

Jertson, Nels Whalen, Minn. 

"Blessed Insurance" — A good line, better buy now. 

Johnson, Albion K Buffalo, Minn. 

"Miller of the Dee" — Ask Bowlby. 

Johnson, Axel B Presc(^tt, Wisconsin 

"Snap it up" A lieutenant from "D." 

Johnson, John 8112 Superior Ave., Cleveland, Ohio. 

.4 worthy and industrious Buckeye- 

Johnson, Juul I R. F. D. No. 2, Byron, Minn. 

Keep pumping — "Give us Copenhagen." 

Johnson, Walter A 943 23rd Ave., Milwaukee, Wis. 

The "Star" of the gridiron. 

Jones, Thomas R R. F. D. No. 1, Crawfordsville, Iowa 

Singing Tom — "Look out for me. Boys, I'm 'alf boiled" — Get up. King, and wash. 

Jorgenson, Christ R St. Cloud, Minn. 

Our fire runner — "Turn out the guard." 

Kartes, Bernard E 3023 N. Upton Ave., Minneapolis, Minn. 

The Pugilist — "If'hy?" — "What for?" — Remembered his family first. 

Karkowski, Peter 371 Arthur Ave., Milwaukee, Wis. 

Base No. 9. 

Keeley, William T R. F. D. No. 3, Bay City, Mich. 

An artist on the Barracks grounds. 

Kensok, Joseph M Minnesota Lake, Minn. 

Honest — Steady Joe. 

Kersting, Charles N Cohasset, Minn. 

The home-sick boy. 

King, James St. Hilaire, Minn. 

"Shanty Irish" — King James erstwhile from England. 

KiNSEY, Ch.4Rlie L Grimes, Iowa 

"The bigger they are the harder they fall." 

Klarnetsky, ISR.4EL A 2.5.51 South Eighth St., Philadelpia, Penn. 

"That's right — aint it?" 

Klein, Gradus G 1310 West Washington St., Pella, Iowa 

He got eats at Custer — True Blue. 

Klopping, Victor A Newton, Iowa 

At the "Front." 

KoENEN, George G 867 Robinson Ave., Milwaukee, Wis. 

.4 willing worker. 

KoRZAU, Stanley 22 Dublin St., Hamtramck, Mich. 

Got there in time — ask Boris. 

Kraft, Eugene C 1007 Jackson St., Joliet, Illinois 

"Grab that broom" — "Hey, all you dizzy birds." 

Kressin, William A 842 21st St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin 

"Petite" Kressin. 

Lange, John S 301 31st St., Wyandotte, Mich. 

"/ don't believe it" — Duty on the crane. 

Lawler, James J 89 Merritt St., Plains, Penn. 

The other Tivin — The third seat editor. 

Lecas, Gus E Valley Junction, Iowa 

"Oh, Boy" — "As you ivere" — The wrestler. 



Lee, John W Cambridge, Iowa 

"That 'ere truck driver." 
Leshner, Samuel 613 McKean St., Philadelphia, Penn. 

"Put some pep" — A good Indian. 

Levingston, Charles W 1617 Ellis Court, Lansing, Mich. 

Otto Michcls's night-mare. 

Lien, John C Vining, Minn. 

The puzzle maker — An "A-1" carpenter. 

Lincoln, George E 633 Prairie St., Grinnell, Iowa 

Honest Abe — Another rail-splitter. 

LiNDENMAYER, Ernest L Marengo, Iowa 

A French perfume user. 

Lund, Ole K North Branch, Minn. 

A blackhand. 

Lundeen, Victor E R. F. D. No. 1, Harris, Minn. 

"Snow-ball" — "What time is it note?" 

LuTz, Cyrus R. F. D. No. 3, Grant, Mich. 

The unfortunate rail carrier. 

Lyon, Fred R Rome, Iowa 

An exponent of better things — Always happy. 

Mabie, Comer 508 West Washington St., Colfax, Iowa 

Perhaps may-be — The sivash buckler — An enemy of French Wine. 
Main, John Box 4 North West Street, Kalamazoo, Mich. 

"Why don't they do it this ivay." 

Makauhkas, William 530 West Shawnee Ave., Plymouth, Penn. 

Always had an argument. 

Maltzen, Harry Lakefield, Minn. 

"Officers' K. P." 

Mancuso, Joe 136 Franklin St., Detroit, Mich. 

The basket weaver. 

Mapes, Vernie a Sparta, Mich. 

Fat and saucy. 
Maranzano, Stefano . 195 Russell St., Detroit, Mich. 

The giant worker — The strong man. 

Marsh, John A Wabasha, Minn. 

The model soldier — My, hoio that rifle shone. 

Marsh, Royal R Galba, Iowa 

"The Pied Piper." 
Marshall, William D Bedford, Iowa 

"Hurrah," the day of steam is here. — A black-hand. 

Mathis, Carrie A Elkhart, Iowa 

"Rumley" — Another black-hand — Cater pillaring thru France. 

Matson, Edwin 2334 South Lee St., Philadelphia, Penn. 

A faithful Swede. 
Mayo, William D 2808 South Fremont Ave., Minneapolis, Minn. 

Monarch of all he surveyed. 

Messina, Guisseppe 259 Mullet St., Detroit, Mich. 

An Italian strategist. 

MiCHAELis, George H 168 Lemon St., Kenosha, Wisconsin 

The old King Snipe — R. R. section man. 

MiCHELS, Otto K 1321 North 7th St., Burlington, Iowa 

The fiddler — Always cheerful — "Three teeth rained." 
MiLENDER, George W Clear River, Minn. 

Drafted and ready for service. 



Miller, Alfred Goodhue, Minn. 

Another black-hand — Slim Jim. 

MiRECKi, Wladyslaw Duffield Ave., South Chicago, 111. 

A good soldier from Russia. 

MoLiTOR, Joseph A 383 East Cook St., St. Paul, Minn. 

A grocer in line oj duty — "Pretty soft." 

MoLLESTON, Carl T Linevelle, Iowa 

"Uncle Josh" — "The soldier juggler" — "D" fun maker. 

Morenz, August 1525 Central Ave., Detroit, Mich. 

Slow but sure — The Sergeant's stove-man. 

Mrzygud, Anthony 691 Frederick St., Detroit, Mich. 

A good section man. 

McCaul, John H 436 Umatilla St., Grand Rapids, Mich. 

"Gigadier Brindle." 

McISAAC, Edwin South Rockwood, Mich. 

He knew the rail-road game. 

McKeever, Benjamin H R. F. D. No. 2, Mitchellville, Iowa 

Sherman was a great thinker. 

McKusicK, Charles W 207 Aurora Ave., St. Paul, Minn. 

A rail-road machinist. 

McLouTH, Arthur 1656 Marlbough St., Detroit, Mich. 

A would-be M. E. — A great interest in locomotives. 

Nelson, William C 803 Minnesota Ave., Gladstone, Mich. 

The King of the "Chinks." 

Nicolaisen, Henry B 

Breezy and self-reliant. 

NiELSON, Kai E 614 North Minnesota St7, Algona, Iowa 

"Pop" — the terrible, durable Dane. 

Nolan, William R Grand Meadow, Minn. 

"Miracle" — Count Von Hindenburg fights the Huns. 

NoRDWALL, Anton R. F. D. No. 3, Sebeka, Minn. 

On the tractor and it run. 

Nyquist, Claus a Manton, Mich. 

Road-Boss for the A. E .F. 

Ombry, Joseph 818 Second St., Saginaw, Mich. 

"Poma" — The happy Italian. 

Olejniczak, Joseph F 208 Clayton Ave., Detroit, Mich. 

"Almanac"-— One more black-hand. 

Pahde, Herman C Mt. Olive, Illinois 

"7 can be tough, too" — A practical decorator in Co. "D." 

Pancrazio, Re Ramsey, Mich. 

The name and not the man that is crazio. 

Parks, Edwin A 411 Regent St., Lansing, Mich. 

A good, level head — Handy tvith the tin-snips. 

Pederson, Oscar J R. F. D. No. 1, Drayton, North Dakota 

Honest and dependable. 

Pearlstein, Louis 1521 North 10th St., Philadelphia, Penn. 

"Hot Dogs" — "Is Johnson up yet?" — "Do we have Reveille to-day?" 

Peterson, John A Box 44, Huntersville, Minn. 

Never in a hurry but kept going. 

Peterson, John E Forest Lake, Minn. 

A real engine driver — One more black-hand. 

Peterson, George G Hazel, Minn. 

Not a speed king, but a steady worker. 



Peterson, Sigurd Walnut Grove, Minn. 

A permanent K. P. 

Peterson, William L R. No.3, Corning, Iowa 

Co. "D" Historian — Co. "Y" man. 

Philips, Dan A 812 Plough St., Kalamazoo, Mich. 

A convoy artist. 

Picchiotino, Michael A R. F. D. No. 4, Calumet, Mich. 

He got beau-coup mail. 

Polo, William A Frederick, South Dakota 

"/ aint making any noise, am I, Jack?" 

Poll, Benjamin 21 East Elm St., Fremont, Mich. 

Good at several jobs. 
Poma, Sam 103 Chestnut St., Detroit, Mich. 

Poma the snorer. 

Powell, Chas. J 323 East Ave., Elyria, Ohio 

A typical Yank, long, lean, brown and lank. 

Power, Pierrie A P. 0. Box 129, Norway, Mich. 

All H. P. Power— Co. "I>'s" Bridge-builder. 

Rashkowski, Frank 612 Elizabeth St., Kenosha, Wisconsin 

Consistent in spite of his name. 

Reeves, Chester Waverly, Iowa 

"Erect" — Co. "D's" right guide with a thirty-eight inch step. 

Reynolds, Frank 285 North Ave., Battle Creek, Mich. 

A Gold-dust twin. 

RisiNGER, KiRBY W 57 Plum St., Wyandotte, Mich. 

The Star-gazer. 
Rock, Martin A Parnell, Iowa 

Parnell's Rock of Gibralter. 

Roenisch, Herbert 902 15th St., Detroit, Mich. 

A first class carpenter. 

Romes, Tony Box 16, Western Ave., Sheboygan, Mich. 

What? A survivor of Pompeii. 

Rothtrock, Ben.TAMIN F Bondurant, Iowa 

"Chief of the Black-hands" — "Our own Top-Kick." 
Rukonen, Otto Fenner, California 

Stayed awake so that others might sleep — The Dentists' patient. 

Runmark, John 625 Morgan Ave. North, Minneapolis, Minn. 

Convoy John — The Cherub. 

St. Aubin, Henry L Vanderbilt, Mich. 

Thoroughly at home in France. 

Sama, Guisseppe 618 Kenilworth St., Philadelphia, Penn. 

"Me shava you" — Our obliging, efficient barber. 

Sando, William G R. F. D. No. 8, Lebanon, Penn. 

Capable, energetic, fair — friend to all. 

Schaibly, Ezra B . R. F. D. No. 5, Lansing, Mich. 

Amiable and industrious — A real man. 

Schmidt, Edward A Ocheyrdan, Iowa 

The Prodigal Sun-beam. 

Schmidt, Louis H Perham, Minn. 

Shod all Co. "D" horses. 

Schmidt, Raymond W 3037 North Franklin St., Philadelphia, Penn. 

"Y" /Vq_ I — a rea/ clerk behind the counter. 

ScHMiTT, Joseph H 1162 Townsend Ave., Detroit, Mich. 

Big Joe, a real mechanic. 



ScHWANKE, Charles A 820 West 8th St., Cedar Falls, Iowa 

^^Eventually, luhy not noiv?'* — A good irorker. 

Shepard, Daniel H Melrose, Iowa 

Carlson's assistant. 

Sheridan, Edwin C 955 North Sartain St., Philadelphia, Penn. 

"Sherry" — the tripod man. 

Shook, Herbert A R. F. D. No. 2, Van Wert, Ohio 

Quiet and likable. 

Shook, Oley F Nazareth, Penn. 

A "D" man in hard luck. 

Shulach, John 33 Parsons St., Detroit, Mich. 

One whom peace accommodated. 

Sinna, Andrew New Brighton, Minn. 

"ff'ell water" Sinna. 
Smith, George W 432 South Johnson St., lotwa City, Iowa 

The bullet-proof Kid — "Carry a mirror." 

Smith, Jasper L R. F. D. No. 3, Eaton Rapids, Mich. 

"U aal, no, not a Corporal but I'm No. 1 in the front rank." 

Snyder, Frank E 222 Smith Ave., Lansing, Mich. 

"Oui," "Oui," "Sir." 
Snyder, Rodney V Dallas Center, Iowa 

Dallas Center, you were very well represented. 

SoLSAA, Edwin Jasper, Minn. 

A good natured, worthy Minnesotan. 

Spence, Robert W 1941 East Cambria St., Philadelphia, Penn. 

"Simon Legree" — "build that pyramid now." 

Splitstone, Raymond J .' Fremont, Mich. 

The Beau Brummel at Mur de Sologne. 

Spragg, Alfred W 503 6th St.. Southeast, Minneapolis, Minn. 

Another useful truck man. 

Stevens, William A 201 3rd Ave. South. Oelwein, Iowa 

Lincoln's side-kick — The bicycle plutocrat — "Oelwein's Best." 

Stich, Albert A 1608 Clarke St., Milwaukee, Wis. 

"With his name and stone he will build you a Home." 

Stookesberry, Ethridge H Bloomfield, Iowa 

.4 real old sea-dog. 

Strobel, Charles J Greene Isle, Minn. 

.4n Officers' Mess-man. 

Stuckmann, Harold Stewartsville, Minn. 

The good-natured Minnesotan. 

Swanson, William F North Branch, Minn. 

Considerate and thoughtful of others. 

Tannewitz, Joseph E R. F. D. No. 3, Newaygo, Mich. 

A good mechanic. 

Tatti, Thomas 654 Riopelle St., Detroit, Mich. 

"I've been working on the Rail-road." 

Teders, Henry J St. Cloud, Minn. 

Master of the Officers' Mess. 

Teets, Roscoe H Keota, Iowa 

The Tractor King — Engineer on the Mur de Sologne "Special." 

Tesche, Theodore L 315 Cedar Lane, Highland Park, Penn. 

A Philadelphia carpenter. 

Thayer, William H. H 44 Rue N. Lycee Roanne (Loire) France 

A "long" sergeant ivith a deep voice. 



Thieman, Alfred J Watson, Saskatchawan, Canada 

President of the carpenter's union. 

Thomas, Clyde H Grand Rapids, Mich. 

Don't doubt Thomas, or at least not Clyde Thomas. 

Thompson, Harry H Kellerton, Iowa 

The man who sun-burned the roof of his mouth watching aeroplanes. — A black-hand. 

TiGUE, James 171 Tompkins St., Pittston, Penn. 

Jf'ho served his time in the Officers' Mess. 

Tic, Alfred F 354 Miller St., Benton Harbor, Mich. 

"Checked out, me 'nd Brink." 

ToMEKi, George 135 Brady St., Detroit, Mich. 

The consistent Sphinx. 

Tompkins, Lonnie P Redfield, Iowa 

A good member for the "Snappy 55th" — "Tommy Atkins." 

Underwood, Ralph S 1628 4th St., Southeast, Minneapolis, Minn. 

A real student — Surveyed the largest rifle-range in France. 
"Historian" from armistice day on. 

Unruh, Herman F R. F. D. No. 1, West St. Paul, Minn. 

Sergeant of the K. P's. 
Urbanowski, Stanley 51 John St., Hartford, Conn. 

A loyal American Soldier. 
Van Roekel, William Sioux Center, Iowa 

Van, Van, the mimeograph man. 

Varey, Mark E Humboldt, Minn. 

Old Chief, crank 'em up. 

Wahlig, Charles E 412 Oneida Ave., Davenport, Iowa 

Had the hardest "luck" of any man in Co. "D." 

Wallace, Lloyd L IQi/o Taft St., Detroit, Mich. 

The Ben-Hur of the truck. 

Warner, Alfred R Blue Earth, Minn. 

if horn rheumatism made a K. P. 

Watt, Robert 125 North Oakwood Ave., Lake Forest, Illinois 

IVait for the car — the modern Job. 

Welsh, Mike 230 Workely Ave., Thief River Falls, Minn. 

The Hero of "Dime Novels." 

Wetterlind, Ernest G 300 Third Ave., Red Oak, Iowa 

Co. D's utility man — a real asset. 
Woods, Osco W 1329 Easy St., Flint, Mich. 

With his Jiame will construct everything modern. 



HEADQUARTERS 55th ENGINEERS COMPANY "D" 
G. I. S. D. A. P. 0. 713. 

June 11th, 1919. 
Memorandum: To Captain Wyatt S. Hawkins. 

Almost at the close of our military service in the Great World War, we, as 
members of Company "D," 55th Engineers, desire to express to you, our Captain, 
our appreciation of your services. On account of your engineering experience in 
civil life, you were exceptionally well fitted for a splendid Captain of an Engineer 
Company. Admiration of your sterling character has been compelled both within 
and without your command by all who have come to know you. These traits of 
character have constituted the example that has made possible the maintenance of 
the high morale of Company "D." 

Recognizing the above facts we resolved to express this appreciation in some 
definite form. We have, therefore, contributed and wish to present to you a sum 
of money to be used in the purchase of some definite article for your home that 
can be inscribed as having come from your old Company. We have not, and can- 
not purchase the gift ourselves on account of the difficulty of securing anything 
satisfactory in France, the excessive prices here, and the speedy demobilization 
necessary on reaching the "Stales." We beg that you accept this gift with the 
continued good will of the givers. 

Signed by the list of donors appended: 

Durant, Oklahoma, 

July_25th, 1919. 
To the members of Co. "D," 55th Engineers: 

The process of demobilization placed our company in such a state of chaos I 
did not have the opportunity of expressing to you the things I wanted to, — the 
appreciation of your keen loyalty was a possession I cherished thru our existence 
as a company and will all thru life. While we were all happy over the realization 
we were returning to our homes, yet there was the feeling of sadness in severing 
those close personal relations which only men of the A. E. F. can know and feel. 

There is so much to say, but space does not permit. I do want to thank each 
of you for the hearty cooperation you gave me; your willingness to perform any 
task asked of you, no matter what it was, and, above all things, your absolute 
loyalty to your company. 

While we were all glad to be back home and again take our places in our 
community's life, yet knowing the spirit of the men of "D," I know, if the occa- 
sion again arises land I pray God it never will) we will all be "present or ac- 
counted for." 

I want each of you to feel that same liberty in calling on me in the years to 
come that you did when you knew me as your Captain. I left that rank at Camp 
Dodge on July 12, 1919. Remember I am always ready to go my limit for the 
men of our company. 

May God's richest blessings, health, good fortune, and prosperity ever attend 
each of you. 

Always your friend, 

Wyatt S. Hawkins 
C[o. Engineering Dept. 
Sinclair Oil Co. 

Tulsa, Oklahoma. 



HEADQUARTERS 55th ENGINEERS 
G. I. S. D.— A. P. 0. 713. 

June 9, 1919. 
From: C. 0. 55th Engineers, American Expeditionary Forces. 
To: The Personnel, 55th Engineers, A. E. F. 

Subject: The Regiment — Its past and its future. 

1. The demands of military necessity have apparently made it impossible for 
the Regiment to assemble as a complete organization. Orders have been re- 
ceived, or are about to be received, by the several companies returning them to the 
United States, and I take this opportunity of asking the entire personnel of this 
Regiment to cherish its memory. 

2. It will have been in existence a little more than fifteen months, all of which 
time, with the exception of the first five days, I have served with it. As Personnel 
Adjutant I had the opportunity of being intimately acquainted with its personnel 
and the character of the men from which it is formed. Its wonderful record dur- 
ing the period of its service in France has been recognized by those in High Com- 
mands, and it has come to my attention upon good authority that it has been for 
many months, known as "THE BEST ENGINEER CONSTRUCTION REGIMENT 
THAT SERVED IN THE A. E. F." The splendid work which it did in the first 
months undoubtedly prevented its leaving the S. 0. S., for in those days, when there 
was so much to be done in this section and so little time in which to do it, it was 
the "55th Engineers," its Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Details, which 
reached out into every corner of this great section and directed the construction 
work, until the responsible authorities would not consider releasing it for the 
work at the "Front." The consciousness of never having failed under conditions 
not at all times inspiring, was a personal satisfaction to every Officer and to every 
Soldier of the 55th Engineers. 

3. I am convinced that you little realize at this time the satisfaction and 
pride this will be to you thruout, what I trust will be a prosperous and happy 
life for all of you. But now, while we still remain an Organization, it is neces- 
sary to take the first steps of continuing some form of association, after we have 
been mustered out of the Service. Having served so long as your Personnel Adju- 
tant, and having at all times been with the Regiment, it is my privilege to be 
better acquainted with your record than any other Officer. I, therefore, offer to 
every member of the 55th Engineers the privilege of using my office in Chicago 
for any purpose which may suit his convenience. I am keeping my personal 
file many of the informal records and some of the records of the Reginient and if, 
at any time, it is possible for me to serve any man of the 55th in aiding him to get 
in touch with any other member, I will always do all that is possible to accomplish 
it. If at any time I can aid members in adjusting any matters which may have 
arisen in their relations with the Government, it will be a privilege for me to serve 
them, and to this end every member of this Regiment is HEREBY DIRECTED TO 
KEEP ME FULLY POSTED AS TO HIS CHANGE OF ADDRESS AND OTHER 
VITAL STATISTICS, so that I may have a file, which will enable me to be of the 
greatest service to all of the members. 

4. My permanent address is: 

31 NORTH STATE STREET, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. 

J. T. MONTGOMERY, 

Captain Engineers 

Commanding. 



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